Ben Carson Defends Testing Aborted Fetal Tissue in 1992: 'You Have to Look at Intent'

Retired neurosurgeon and 2016 presidential hopeful Ben Carson has defended a recent report that claimed he had performed research on two aborted fetal tissues in 1992.

This week, a blogger revealed that Carson was one of four authors to write a 1992 medical research paper after conducting research on two nine and 17-week aborted fetuses regarding celluloid cysts.

Carson, who has been an outspoken critic of Planned Parenthood in recent weeks, defended his research to the Washington Post this week, arguing that when taking a pro-life stance, one must first look at intent.

"You have to look at the intent," Carson told the media outlet. "To willfully ignore evidence that you have for some ideological reason is wrong. If you're killing babies and taking the tissue, that's a very different thing than taking a dead specimen and keeping a record of it."

Carson is one of several 2016 presidential hopefuls who have voiced their opposition to Planned Parenthood following the release of multiple videos that show executives with the abortion group discussing the costs associated with the procurement of aborted fetal tissue.

"To not use the tissue that is in the tissue bank regardless of where it comes from would be foolish. Why would anybody not do that?" Carson added to reporters during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Thursday.

The 2016 presidential hopeful also reiterated in a statement to MSNBC that "there is absolutely no contradiction between the research I worked on in 1992 and my pro-life views."