Months after Missouri voters enshrined abortion rights in the Constitution in November, Planned Parenthood on Thursday began performing surgical abortions in St. Louis.
On that same day, Missouri’s state health department successfully prohibited medication abortions.
The ruling left Missouri’s abortion laws unclear: while surgical abortions are permitted, Planned Parenthood is still unable to provide medication abortions.
Where can you get a surgical abortion?
Surgical abortions are now available through Planned Parenthood in Columbia, St. Louis, and Kansas City.
In February, the first abortion in the state since the repeal of Roe v. Wade was performed by Planned Parenthood Great Plains at a clinic in the Kansas City region.
Abortions were resumed earlier this month at a clinic in Columbia. The first abortion at the St. Louis center since 2022 occurred Thursday.
“We stand ready to welcome more patients to ensure they can get the care they need, when they need it,” Great Rivers President and CEO Margot Riphagen stated.
An overview of Missouri’s abortion legislation
After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, Missouri outlawed nearly all abortions. There were exceptions to the ban in emergency situations, but not for rape or incest.
In response, voters approved a constitutional amendment safeguarding reproductive rights in November.
The amendment left it up to judges to determine whether the state’s extensive list of laws and other regulations are now illegal, despite the widespread belief that it would repeal the ban.
The trial of a case to repeal the majority of the state’s abortion restrictions, brought by Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion activists, is scheduled for January 2026.
What about abortions performed using medication?
Although Missouri presently prohibits Planned Parenthood from doing medication abortions, affiliates applied to the state health agency in February to start performing medication abortions by submitting complication plans.
Clinics’ procedures for handling problems from abortions are outlined in their complications plans.
In order to “protect Missourians’ access to safe and reliable care,” the Department of Health and Senior Services filed emergency complication plan regulations on March 13.
According to the regulation, “the rule will ensure that women can receive appropriate emergency care for abortion-related complications at a convenient location in a timely and safe manner.”
The rules went into force on Thursday. Without providing further details, the health department informed Planned Parenthood that day that its complication plans did not adhere to the new regulations.
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According to Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, pharmaceutical abortion is common among women who may desire a less invasive procedure due to past abuse.
Republicans resist
In March, Planned Parenthood was told to stop performing medication abortions as the health department had not authorized its complication plans by GOP Attorney General Andrew Bailey, whose office is currently defending Missouri’s abortion regulations in court.
After issuing the order, Bailey released a statement saying, “This cease and desist letter ensures that basic health and safety standards are met. Given Planned Parenthood’s history, I will continue to ensure their compliance with state law.”
According to Planned Parenthood, it has no intention of performing medication abortions without the required authorization.
The Republican-led Missouri Legislature is attempting to restrict abortions once more after passing a nearly complete prohibition.
According to GOP House Speaker Jon Patterson, a new constitutional amendment that would place more limitations on abortion is set to be advanced by a House committee next week.
Voters would have to approve any proposed amendment.
How House members wish to further regulate abortions is not quite obvious. The law is presently being negotiated, according to Patterson.
This information has been sourced from apnews.
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