Gov. Mike Pence ordered the State Department of Health on Thursday to investigate Indiana's Planned Parenthood facilities in the wake of controversy surrounding the national abortion provider.
A video released earlier this week by an anti-abortion group The Center for Medical Progress purports to show a top Planned Parenthood official discussing illegal trafficking of aborted fetal tissue.
The national organization denies the claims, but Gov. Mike Pence says every Hoosier should be deeply troubled by the allegations.
And he says he has an obligation to ensure the practice isn't taking place in Indiana, directing the state Health Department to immediately investigate.
In a statement, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky CEO Betty Cockrum says her organization doesn't engage in any tissue donation program – which she notes is a standard medical research practice – and says Planned Parenthood is in full compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations.