|
 Women's healthcare and abortion provider Planned Parenthood sued
Missouri two weeks ago after state health officials refused to renew
the license of the Reproductive Health Services of Planned
Parenthood clinic in St. Louis.
Court documents show state health officials said they did not renew
because they were unable to interview seven of its physicians over
"potential deficient practices."
If the facility's license is not renewed, Missouri would become the
only U.S. state without an abortion clinic since the Supreme Court's
landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 that legalized abortion
nationwide and recognized a woman's right to terminate her
pregnancy.
The injunction issued by State Circuit Court Judge Michael Stelzer
said Missouri must make a final decision by June 21 on whether or
not to renew the clinic's license to perform abortions, which was
due to expire on May 31, before the decision can be reviewed.
The state must make an 'official action' in order for Planned
Parenthood to be entitled to review, Stelzer wrote, and scheduled a
status hearing for the same day.
He also wrote the state's Administrative Hearing Commission and not
the circuit court has exclusive jurisdiction and authority to rule
on any decision denying the clinic's license.
DIVISIVE ISSUE
Planned Parenthood welcomed the ruling.
[to top of second column] |
"Though the looming threat to safe, legal abortion is far from gone,
we’ll keep up the fight to protect abortion access in Missouri and
across the country. To our patients across the country, we’ve got
your back — our doors are open," it said on Twitter.
Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the United States,
with opponents often citing religious beliefs to call it immoral. A
string of states have passed legislation restricting abortion in
recent months.
The legal battle began after Missouri Governor Mike Parson, a
Republican, signed a bill on May 24 banning abortion beginning in
the eighth week of pregnancy, making Missouri one of nine U.S.
states to pass anti-abortion legislation this year.
Anti-abortion activists have said they hope to prompt the current
conservative majority on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade
by enacting laws such as Missouri's, which are assured of facing
court challenges.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Bill Tarrant
and Sonya Hepinstall)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
