Video warrants a deeper look

Disturbing is the only way to describe a recently released video by a pro-life group that shows a top Planned Parenthood official discussing — in graphic and sometimes grotesque detail — how to abort a fetus to preserve its organs for medical research.

The group that conducted the “sting” operation, the Center for Medical Progress, obtained the footage of Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood’s senior director of medical research, by having two activists pose as employees of a biotech firm and pressing Nucatola over whether clinics charged for the organs.

The group says the footage shows the abortion provider is selling fetal organs in violation of federal law.

With patient consent, clinics may donate fetal tissue for research purposes. That reality is what the video captures, claims Planned Parenthood.

Still, Nucatola’s cavalier discussion of a sensitive topic is highly distasteful.

Videos can be edited to meet the agenda of their creators, so it’s fair to remain skeptical.

But the claims warrant further investigation, as several Texas leaders, including Sen. Ted Cruz, have demanded.

We agree with the junior senator.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 5:26 PM with the headline "Video warrants a deeper look."