Planned Parenthood files lawsuit to restore abortion access in Missouri next month

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Amendment 3 passed in Missouri and now abortion activists are putting it to the test.

Amendment 3, which restores Missouri's near total abortion ban passed on Tuesday night with 52% of the vote.

The amendment was one which became controversial in Missouri, after being put on the ballot just hours before the deadline certification. Missouri's Planned Parenthood providers filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, following the passage of the amendment to begin restoring abortion access to Missourians.

The lawsuit asks requests the amendment take effect Thursday, Dec. 5.

According to a press release, the lawsuit was filed by the Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers represented by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the ACLU of Missouri, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The lawsuit asks for a preliminary injunction that blocks the enforcement of the following restrictions:

• The first total abortion ban triggered by the Dobbs decision;
• Cascading gestational age bans;
• Bans that stigmatize and limit abortion care based on a patient’s reason for having an abortion;
• Hospital admitting privileges requirements;
• Biased and medically inaccurate counseling requirements;
• Forced delay periods that require patients to make multiple trips to a clinic for care;
• A ban on the delivery of medication abortion by telemedicine;
• A physician-only law that prevents qualified medical professionals from providing abortion care; and
• Criminal penalties for abortion providers

Planned Parenthood, along with the ACLU held a press conference Wednesday afternoon outlining the lawsuit.

According to Senior Staff attorney of Planned Parenthood Federation of America Ella Spottswood, the lawsuit asks that the court set a schedule that allows planned parenthood to start providing surgical and medical abortions on Dec. 5.

Spottswood said the organization is ready to move forward with the hearing as quickly as the court allows.

The Columbia Planned Parenthood, Central Western Health Center in Saint Louis and the Midtown Kansas City location are all seeking to begin services on Dec. 5. The organization said they have the staff and facilities ready to do so.

CEO and President of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Richard Muniz said they don't plan to stop enforcing the protections of Amendment 3, adding that Wednesday is only the beginning.

"The preliminary injunction that we're seeking asks the court to block the most direct and immediate barriers on abortion access for both our patients and our providers," Muniz said. "But to be clear, this is only the first step to realizing Amendment 3 and fully implementing the protections of Amendment 3, it's certainly not the last step"

Others are opposed to the move.

Samuel Lee is a part of Campaign Life Missouri, a group that was strongly against the passage of Amendment 3.

Lee believes the measure remove regulations the legislature put in place for women who end up having an abortion.

"You know, a law requires that she (women) have to see a doctor and get a prescription. Well, Planned Parenthood wants to just strike those laws down and let anybody distribute abortion pills. That's wrong. That's wrong for Missouri. It's wrong for Missouri women," Lee said.

The claim has been disputed. Lee said he hopes to pass a new amendment that ensures pregnant women know all of their options and have time to reflect on their choice.

"We hope to get that on the ballot and maybe by November of 2026 or November of 2028, then voters will have a chance to once again restore basic health and safety protections for the women of Missouri," Lee said.

However, Director of Policy Campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri Tori Schafer said the group is willing to continue its fight to ensure reproductive freedom in the state. Schafer noted the many times the group has had to fight politicians in the past, especially to have the question put back on the November ballot.

"We brought them to court and won five times to get to yesterday's historic election and they're sorely mistaken if they think we, the people won't hold them accountable," Schafer said. "We are resilient. We are united and we are ready to continue this fight."