Planned Parenthood seeks fewer safety checks on chemical abortions in lawsuit against Missouri

Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang of Jackson County, Missouri, is considering whether to uphold Missouri’s restriction on chemical abortions after hearing a lawsuit, brought on behalf of Planned Parenthood Wednesday.

“Today, our trial team did a great job presenting Judge Zhang with significant evidence supporting the reasonableness of the health and safety requirements at issue,” state attorneys said in a statement to KSHB 41 News. “Our unwavering commitment remains to defend the common-sense health and safety requirements that protect Missouri women and children.”

Attorneys for Planned Parenthood argue two state regulations prevent the abortion giant from performing chemical abortions, but state attorneys from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office argue these regulations protect both women and doctors from dangerous complications.

One regulation requires chemical abortion providers to present a complication plan for prescribing Mifepristone that includes listing a primary care physician and discussing the prescription with local physicians. Planned Parenthood argues this violates patient privacy.

The second regulation requires a 21-year “tail insurance” statute for doctors following the prescription in case of complications.

“It is part of the same set of laws which are politically motivated and don’t have any basis in providing quality health care,” Planned Parenthood Great Rivers President & CEO Margot Riphagen told KSHB 41 News.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers did not reply to The Lion’s request for comment.

Last November, Missouri voters narrowly passed an amendment that constitutionally legalized abortion up to fetal viability. Prior to this, abortion was illegal in Missouri except for cases involving the life or serious health of the mother.

Twenty-four hours after the amendment passed, Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against Missouri for its TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Provider) restriction that kept abortion providers from practicing. In February, a judge temporarily blocked this restriction, allowing clinics to perform surgical abortions.

In July, after the Missouri Supreme Court clarified legal standards on preliminary injunctions, a Jackson County judge issued a preliminary injunction granting Planned Parenthood clinics legal permission to perform surgical abortions.

This current lawsuit before the circuit court seeks to expand the preliminary injunction to cover chemical abortions.

Zhang will decide on a preliminary injunction for medication abortions in the coming weeks, and, in a related lawsuit, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, will decide whether to overturn the original injunction permitting surgical abortions.