Missouri could become the first state without an abortion clinic

The realities of a recent round of abortion restrictions could become even clearer in Missouri on Friday as the state threatens to close down its latest abortion clinic.

Planned Parenthood officials announced that they would sue on Tuesday for a restraining order to prevent the state from closing their only clinic located in the state, in St. Petersburg. Louis.

"It's not an exercise – it's not a warning – it's real and it's a public health crisis," said Leana Wen, president of the World Health Organization. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, during a call to reporters Tuesday.

The Planned Parenthood clinic license, issued by the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors' Services, is due to expire on Friday and if it is not renewed, the clinic will have to cease operations.

Planned Parenthood officials have asked for their license to be renewed, but according to the Associated Press, Planned Parenthood reported that state officials have reportedly investigating "a large number of possible deficiencies," without giving more details.

Jim Salter / AP

The prosecution is led by the Department of Health and Seniors Services (DHSS), Randall Williams, DHSS Director, and Governor Mike Parson as defendants. ABC News's requests for comments from the Missouri Department of Health and Seniors' Services and Governor Mike Parson's office were not immediately returned.

Planned Parenthood officials said during the phone call that the state had asked to interview the seven doctors at the clinic, but that it would not give any indication of what doctors would ask for during the phone calls. interviews. Planned Parenthood officials said the interviews could lead doctors to lose their medical license or possible criminal prosecution.

According to the Associated Press, two of the clinic's seven doctors agreed to be interviewed, and this will happen Tuesday.

Wen said that if the restraining order was not issued and that the clinic lost its license, it would mean that for the first time since 1974, a year after the adoption of Roe v. Wade, this care will no longer be legally insured. whole state. "

Colleen McNicholas, doctor at the St. Louis clinic and also in communication with reporters, warned that, given the increasing number of abortion restrictions in several states in recent months, this tactic may not be limited in Missouri.

"It's the foreshadowing of what's going to happen in other states," said McNicholas, describing the elimination of abortion providers in Missouri as "the dismantling of rights and freedoms. for which we fought for decades. "

Missouri Governor's Office

She also said that if the clinic was closed, this "unsurprisingly and perhaps by design" would have a greater impact on low-income women who would have to travel more for an abortion.

Missouri is one of a series of states that have adopted abortions in recent months. Governor Parson enacted the law last week.

As with all other abortion bans recently enacted in other states, including Alabama and Georgia, legal action commenced almost immediately after the signing of the bill prevented it from occurring. Enter into force.

The lawsuit regarding the abortion clinic is not the only ongoing legal action on access to abortion in the state. The American Civil Liberties Union announced on Tuesday that it will hold a referendum to cancel the ban on abortion.