Statement from Dr. Colleen McNicholas

ST. LOUIS — Today, a state circuit court judge in St. Louis issued an order keeping a preliminary injunction in place until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 28. The judge’s order gives Planned Parenthood the chance to ask the Administrative Hearing Commission to reverse the Department of Health and Senior Services’ license denial. If the commission does not act before 5 p.m. on Friday, abortion access at the last health center in Missouri will cease. For now, patients who have appointments this week will continue to be able to access abortion care.

Statement by Dr. Colleen McNicholas, ob-gyn, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region:

“The terrifying reality is that access is hanging on by a thread with a narrowing timeline. The truth is, if the Administrative Hearing Commission does not act by Friday, abortion access in the state of Missouri will be gone. This creates uncertainty for the patients we serve. The Department of Health and Senior Services Director, Randall Williams, has already proven himself to be harmful to Missourians. His admission that he forced women to undergo medically unnecessary pelvic exams is proof that this state is on a destructive path against Missouri women. 

“Abortion care is health care and patients in need of this service shouldn’t have to wait day by day wondering if they can access care tomorrow, nor should they have ever had to undergo invasive exams that have nothing to do with their health. We will continue this fight in the Administrative Hearing Commission, and we won’t stop until every person can access the care they need when and where they need it.”