ST. LOUIS — The future of abortion services in Missouri is in the hands of a St. Louis judge.
Planned Parenthood sued the State of Missouri, asking for a temporary restraining order to allow the clinic in St. Louis to continue abortion services after its license expires Friday at 11:59 p.m.
Lawyers for Planned Parenthood and the State of Missouri made their arguments before Judge Michael Stelzer. Stelzer adjourned late Thursday morning, without an indication of when he might make his ruling.
The State of Missouri will not renew the clinic’s license until inspectors with the Department of Health and Senior Services are able to interview doctors at the clinic who performed abortions. Planned Parenthood agreed to allow two of its full-time physicians to be interviewed. However, five other doctors, who are not full-time employees of Planned Parenthood, have hired lawyers and their lawyers will not allow them to be interviewed.
Planned Parenthood said the interviews are being used as a way to harass and intimidate doctors.
“People need to remember that the Missouri legislature and Governor Parson just passed the most extreme ban on abortion in Missouri and before that ban can even take effect, this state is eagerly moving to ban abortion in state through the weaponized regulatory process,” said M’Evie Mead, with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Missouri.
Hundreds of pro-choice protesters rallied and marched in downtown St. Louis Thursday afternoon.
On Wednesday Governor Mike Parson also said Planned Parenthood was not performing an additional pelvic exam prior to an abortion, but the organization said two pelvic exams in a 72-hour span is not medically necessary.
“This is not a pro-life issue at all,” Parson said. “This is about a standard of care for women in the state of Missouri. Whether it's this clinic or any other hospital, they should have to meet the same standards. They know what these standards are.”
Parson also said the state has not taken action on the license, and it's premature for any judge to make a decision.
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