Reproductive Health Services Planned Parenthood in St. Louis, Missouri, will not have its license renewed by the state, according to an announcement made today by the state’s Department of Health. However, a judge’s temporary injunction against the state means that this unlicensed and dangerous facility — which has injured dozens of women in the past ten years — can continue to commit abortions.
In a tweet, Planned Parenthood complained that the state was “weaponiz[ing] a regulatory process” to deny the facility its license renewal. However, multiple deficiencies were found during state health inspections, and some reports — sealed by a judge after they were already made public — reveal that the facility had more than one “failed abortion.” A previous report from Live Action News’ Carole Novielli states:
In a nutshell, there have been reports of “multiple” failed abortions at the facility, including one particular botched abortion caught during an inspection. A deficiency report revealed that “patient A” suffered an incomplete abortion and for five weeks carried the partial remains of her aborted child in her womb until a second abortion was committed. This was just one reason why the state refused to renew Planned Parenthood’s license.
Dr. Randall Williams, a formerly practicing OB/GYN and current director of DHSS spoke today in a press conference, saying the 30 deficiencies cited at Planned Parenthood of St. Louis are “public record” and that health department officials have to do their jobs to ensure there is not a “systematic failure” at whatever facility they are inspecting.
Planned Parenthood, he said, has only addressed and corrected four of the 30 deficiencies, and has, in an “unprecedented” fashion, refused to cooperate or speak with DHSS regarding three instances of very serious negative patient outcomes. Normally, Williams said, when deficiencies are pointed out, the facility will see about taking corrective action. This was not the case in this instance, and Williams said the DHSS has “a duty to prevent future harm.”
Watch the video below as Williams explains the seriousness of the cases and answers media questions regarding the state’s decision not to renew Planned Parenthood’s license at this time:
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