Planned Parenthood fights release of records in Buena Vista County

A local chapter of Planned Parenthood may face legal action if it doesn’t hand over confidential medical records on hundreds of clients to Buena Vista County prosecutors. County attorney Phil Havens says going over records of pregnancy tests at the Storm Lake clinic could help them figure out who left the body of a newborn baby boy at a recycling pickup site in that town. On CNN’s “talkback Live” today, Planned Parenthood’s Gloria Feldt said patient confidentiality is required by federal law.She says patients trust Planned Parenthood to respect their privacy, and don’t think the organization’s doing that would fail to obey the law and help solve such a crime. Feldt says clients come to the Storm Lake clinic for a variety of healthcare services. She says most people are trying to get healthcare and make responsible choices, and trust their medical records are being kept confidential. Authorities say they’ve had few leads in the tragic case, and Buena Vista County Attorney Phil Havens says he can’t talk about it. He says in a criminal investigation, his subpoenas are one tool being used, but any info they dig up, and the probe itself, are not public. Havens says he’s restricted by law from talking about the case the way Planned Parenthood is doing. He can’t discuss the case or the records. Havens can’t even say whether his office will file contempt-of-court charges against the Storm Lake clinic if it won’t turn over records of pregnancy tests. Prosecutors say local hospitals cooperated, but the Planned Parenthood official says the hospitals only gave out records of babies born there, which is public information.