Key Takeaways:
- Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey orders Planned Parenthood to stop performing chemical abortions in the state.
- The order cites non-compliance with a state law requiring a plan to treat complications from chemical abortions.
- Planned Parenthood faces felony charges if it ignores the order.
- The organization has a history of violating Missouri laws, including reporting and informed consent requirements.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has taken a strong stance against Planned Parenthood, ordering the organization to stop performing chemical abortions in the state. In a recent cease-and-desist letter, Bailey instructed Planned Parenthood Great Rivers-Missouri to halt these procedures immediately or face legal consequences, including felony charges.
Why the Order?
The letter explains that Planned Parenthood is not following a Missouri law, specifically § 188.021.2. This law requires organizations performing chemical abortions to have a valid plan in place to treat complications that may arise. According to the FDA, up to 4.6% of women who undergo chemical abortions need emergency medical care. Missouri law demands that any organization using chemicals that result in more than 1% of patients needing surgical intervention after administration must have an approved treatment plan.
Bailey’s investigation found that Planned Parenthood does not have such a plan approved, putting women’s health at risk.
Planned Parenthood’s History of Violations
The Attorney General also highlighted Planned Parenthood’s history of breaking Missouri laws. He pointed to recent cases where Planned Parenthood physicians admitted under oath to violating the law. Investigators have found the organization repeatedly fails to comply with reporting requirements, informed consent laws, and sterilization standards.
What’s Next?
Liberty Counsel, a legal team that has been involved in many abortion-related cases, supports Bailey’s actions. Mat Staver, Chairman of Liberty Counsel, said, “Chemical abortions harm women physically and emotionally and kill defenseless children in the womb. The abortion industry ignores the lives of unborn children and the health of their mothers.”
Despite the order, Planned Parenthood officials have stated that their Missouri facilities are not currently offering chemical abortions. They say they will wait until their complication plans are approved before resuming the practice.
This battle over chemical abortions in Missouri is part of a larger debate about abortion rights in the state. Earlier this year, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment making abortion a “right” in the state, overturning a near-total abortion ban. Since then, Planned Parenthood has restarted surgical abortions at several locations.
However, the fight over chemical abortions shows that the debate is far from over. As politicians, legal teams, and organizations like Planned Parenthood continue to clash, the focus remains on balancing women’s health, legal compliance, and the rights of the unborn.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.