Appeals court dismisses Planned Parenthood case after company’s request

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Planned Parenthood’s bid to reverse a lower court decision involving Missouri law.

Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains asked the court to toss its appeal Friday after the appeals court denied its request to stay the case. The health care services provider believes a case out of Louisiana that the U.S. Supreme Court may hear is “nearly identical,” and hoped to argue the case once the high court decides. Melissa Cohen, attorney for Planned Parenthood, wrote that the health care provider “will continue to pursue their case in the district court pending further guidance from the Supreme Court.”

The court of appeals officially dismissed the case Monday.

Planned Parenthood appealed a district judge’s decision not to block some state laws that stopped the Columbia facility from being able to perform abortions. The laws involve the facility getting an ambulatory surgical center license and have a doctor with admitting privileges with a nearby hospital.

The judge ruled that it could not help the Columbia clinic until it cleared state health inspections. Only the clinic in St. Louis can now perform abortions in the entire state of Missouri.