Health Department: No Evidence of Fetal Tissue Sale in State

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The state Health Department says it hasn't received any reports or evidence that the sale of fetal tissue has occurred in South Dakota since the department started regulating abortion facilities in 2006.

Planned Parenthood is caught up in a national furor after anti-abortion activists released undercover footage of organization officials outside of South Dakota discussing their handling of fetal tissue.

South Dakota's only abortion clinic is run by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. Spokeswoman Jennifer Aulwes says the organization doesn't have a program in the state for the legal donation of fetal tissue from terminated pregnancies and says it follows state and federal laws.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says he contacted the Health Department in mid-July about the issue. Jackley says there's no evidence of illegal activity.

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