St. Louis, Mo., Jun 1, 2019 / 14:01 pm
A judge's temporary restraining order has prevented the closure of the last abortion clinic in Missouri for now, but the state's governor said officials' serious concerns about the clinic will be addressed.
Gov. Mike Parson said the restraining order means Missouri "will soon have the opportunity for a prompt legal review of our state health regulators' serious health and safety concerns regarding Planned Parenthood's abortion facility in St. Louis."
"We are committed to and take seriously our duty to ensure that all health facilities in Missouri follow the law, abide by regulations, and protect the safety of patients," he said May 31.
Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region had objected that the state health department was refusing to renew its annual license to provide abortions. Planned Parenthood officials have said they have complied as much as possible, accusing the state of enforcing regulations arbitrarily for political reasons, National Public Radio reports.