A federal appeals court has overturned a lower court ruling
that prohibited Missouri from enforcing pro-life laws designed to
protect the health and safety of women considering abortion.
The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued an opinion vacating a
preliminary injunction from May 2017, which prohibited the Department
of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) from enforcing state laws and DHSS
regulations requiring physicians who perform abortions to have hospital
privileges, according to a statement
from the department. The injunction also prohibited the department from
enforcing portions of Missouri’s ambulatory surgical center licensing
laws for abortion facilities.
DHSS said it will immediately begin enforcing the hospital privileges and physical plant requirements for abortion facilities.
Director
Dr. Randall Williams said, “In its opinion, the court noted that the
good faith of state officers and the validity of their actions are
presumed. As the Director of DHSS, a board-certified
obstetrician/gynecologist for 30 years, and a defendant in the case, my
commitment and that of the department is to act in good faith to follow
the law and protect the health and safety of all women in Missouri,
including those seeking abortions.”
Planned Parenthood noted in a statement
that that the recent ruling could “impact its services within weeks,
forcing Planned Parenthood to suspend abortion services in Columbia and
limiting access for patients seeking abortion to a single Missouri
provider in St. Louis, as well as threatening efforts to restart
services in Kansas City. The ruling will also risk further delaying
plans to expand access to Springfield and Joplin.”