Planned Parenthood to Restart Abortion Services in Missouri Following Court Decision

February 15, 2025 TruthUSA

A Missouri judge has issued a temporary order lifting restrictions on abortion in the state, following voters’ decision to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

On Friday, a Missouri judge ruled to eliminate regulations that barred abortion providers from performing procedures within the state.

These regulations were in conflict with the state’s constitution, which was amended after voters approved Amendment 3 during the November 2024 election, safeguarding abortion access until fetal viability, approximately 24 weeks into a pregnancy. Despite this, some access limitations remain.

In December 2024, Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang ruled that the state’s near-total abortion ban could not be enforced. However, the ruling upheld certain licensing requirements.

In her latest ruling, Zhang stated that the licensing requirement for health facilities is inherently discriminatory, as it does not treat abortion facilities on equal footing with other types of healthcare, such as miscarriage management.

This ruling serves as a temporary measure, contingent upon the resolution of a lawsuit initiated by abortion rights advocates.

“Blocking Missouri’s licensure requirements for abortion providers, which rendered full access to care unachievable in the state, is a significant step towards fulfilling the promise of Missourians’ new constitutional right to reproductive freedom,” stated Gillian Wilcox, director of Litigation at the ACLU of Missouri and co-counsel for the case.

The two Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state plan to resume abortion services immediately.

“Abortion care will be reinstated right away,” affirmed Emily Wales, president and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “The voters have spoken, the court acted, and we will fulfill our role: providing care for Missourians in their home state.”

The remaining regulations stipulate that abortion facilities must obtain licenses from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and comply with certain conditions.

Planned Parenthood’s court filings indicated that the licensing law mandated providers to conduct medically unnecessary and invasive pelvic exams for all abortion patients, including those seeking medication abortions.

Additionally, the regulations imposed size constraints for hallways, rooms, and doors, which Planned Parenthood argued were irrelevant, noting that most health centers and doctors’ offices do not meet these standards, according to the ACLU.

A response from the Missouri attorney general’s office was not immediately available.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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