Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline, as part of a supposed criminal investigation into child rape and late-term abortions, has demanded that two health centers — Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, and Women’s Health Care Services — disclose names, medical histories, birth control and sexual practices of about 90 female patients, including minors.

Kline, a Republican who ran on a conservative platform of taxes and abortion, has said that he needs access to the files and the entirety of the patients’ personal information to do his job. But his broad-sweeping requests hint at a hidden agenda of intimidating women and undermining patient privacy.

Elsewhere, Steve Carter, Indiana attorney general, used the heavy hand of his elected office to dispatch a subordinate with a letter to Planned Parenthood of Indiana health centers, where he demanded confidential medical records.

He later piled on a request for about 73 additional complete medical records.

Because these cases hit so close to Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa’s experience in Storm Lake in 2002, it serves as an important reminder that we must diligently work to keep proclaimed anti-abortion politicians out of office.

These people have shown time and again that they cannot separate their personal beliefs from their ability to uphold existing laws and serve in an unbiased capacity.

Employees of Planned Parenthood affiliates around the country are happy to cooperate with law enforcement officials in legitimate investigations with a specific victim or suspect.

But vague demands for the complete medical records of innocent patients is an abuse of power, and we will do everything in our power to protect access to the confidential care that people trust us to provide.

Jill June

President and CEO

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa