Missouri AG warns Planned Parenthood not to dispense abortion pill

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a cease-and-desist letter to the state’s Planned Parenthood facilities last week, prohibiting them from giving women chemical abortions via the abortion pill until they have complication plans approved by the Department of Health and Senior Services.

Though the state’s abortion businesses recently resumed committing abortions after a November ballot measure enshrining abortion as a constitutional ‘right,’ Planned Parenthood says it has not been offering the abortion pill because doing so would violate state law.

In a press release, Bailey explained that his cease-and-desist notice was necessary “in light of Planned Parenthood’s repeated and knowing violations of state law.”

“This order is a necessary enforcement mechanism to prevent Planned Parenthood from continuing to disregard Missouri law and to protect the health and safety of Missouri women,” he wrote. “Planned Parenthood has a documented history of subverting state law, including failure to file complication reports. 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.”

READ: TESTIMONY: 18-year-old died after 22-week abortion at Colorado Planned Parenthood

Under state law, abortion facilities may commit surgical abortions, but they may not carry out chemical abortions until they receive approval for a complication plan. Margot Riphagen, CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, claims her facilities have not yet received approval for their complication plans, despite submitting them in February.

“There is nothing to cease or desist,” she said in a statement sent to The Hill. “Missouri’s Planned Parenthood health centers have complied with the law, and have been waiting weeks for approval of our complication plan in order to begin offering medication abortion to our patients.”

Bailey, however, felt his order necessary due to Planned Parenthood’s history, noting a number of times that Planned Parenthood has flouted state law and demonstrated a “flagrant disregard for legal requirements that are designed to protect women’s health and safety.” Examples of noncompliance include failure to file complication reports and allowing unsafe medical practices, including using moldy medical equipment on patients.

“Planned Parenthood has demonstrated a disturbing pattern of performing abortions without the necessary complication plans, failing to report complications, and willfully violating state law,” he said. “It is my duty to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of Missourians. Missouri will not tolerate Planned Parenthood’s blatant disregard of the law and the safety of women.”