Missouri is on the verge of eliminating its final abortion clinic in St. Louis after a court filing published inspection results of four botched abortions.
State officials must decide if they will reissue the clinic’s license by June 21; if they don’t, Missouri will be the first state since 1974 without an abortion clinic.
Judge Michael Stelzer of the 22nd Circuit Court issued a preliminary injunction Monday to issue the decision instead of letting the licensure lapse at the end of May.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ annual report wrote four separate instances of failed abortions — two resulting in hospitalization, with one woman losing two liters of blood.
“DHSS changes its mind about what the requirements are every time they inspect,” tweeted Jesse Lawder, the spokesman for the clinic, on June 14.
There is only one healthcare facility in the state that has to meet these requirements. DHSS changes its mind about what the requirements are every time they inspect. You should be scrutinizing the politicization of the health department and leave the health care to the doctors. https://t.co/MbxTOm67Cr
— Jesse Lawder (@JesseLawder) June 14, 2019
DHSS released a statement over 60 pages citing the clinic for “at least 30 deficient practices,” including “inadequately supervised pelvic exams, failed surgical and medical abortions, untimely reporting of those failed procedures and poor communication with a contracted laboratory.”
Lawder reported performing 2,532 total abortions in 2018, but within the time frame DHSS inspected — May through September — the number performed was not made available.
Planned Parenthood sued the department, accusing the state of “weaponizing” the inspection process for political reasons.
“From the start, Gov. Parson and DHSS Director Randall Williams have attempted to advance a political agenda,” Lawder said in a statement. “…we have no reason to believe this is any different.”
DHSS refused to consider the clinic’s application to renew until they interviewed seven doctors from the facility. Five out of the seven doctors declined questioning.
However, the patient privacy laws limit what the physicians can say on behalf of the incidents in question.
“It is important to note that this Court does not issue advisory opinions and thus issues no opinion as to whether Petitioner’s application to renew its license should be approved or denied,” Stelzer wrote. “The authority to make that decision rests exclusively with the Department of Health and Senior Services.”
Stelzer scheduled a status conference hearing for the morning of June 21.
