Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey Enforces

Pro-life Law on Chemical Abortions, Protecting Women

From an Increasingly Unregulated Abortion Industry

The following statement is from Susan Klein, Executive Director, Missouri Right to Life:

This week Attorney General Andrew Bailey served a cease and desist order to Planned Parenthood to stop doing chemical abortions until a complication report has been filed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Abortion drugs are dangerous and women have had many complications from these chemical abortions. Even the FDA has recognized this and issued a warning label about the dangers of taking these drugs.  

The abortion industry has proven that they really don’t care about women’s safety. Two examples of this are; first and most recently, the lawsuit asking for removal of licensing and commonsense health and safety regulations in abortion clinics. The health and safety standards removed through the court as of February 17, 2025 via a lawsuit: 

• That only doctors perform abortions (GONE)
• Follow all acceptable sterilization standards for surgery instruments and equipment (GONE)
• Abortion provider is to perform a sufficient examination of the patient to determine the unborn child’s gestational age, identify preexisting medical or other complications and detect any factors which could influence the choice of the procedure, anesthesia or preoperative or postoperative management (GONE)
• That ultrasounds only be performed by doctors or licensed medical technicians (GONE)
• Have emergency trays equipped to treat seizures, bleedings, anaphylactic shock, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest (GONE)
• Have emergency drugs, oxygen, and intravenous fluid in a surgical procedure room along with a manual breathing bag and suction machine (GONE)
• Requirement that facilities for surgical abortion have adequate scrub up facilities, that the sterilizing room be equipped with a steam sterilizer and that there are sufficient surgical instruments sterilized and available for each patient who presents herself for an abortion (GONE)

The second example is in the history of Planned Parenthood in Missouri. Planned Parenthood was shut down for a time when they were found, through inspections by the Department of Health and Senior Services, that they had rusty equipment, expired drugs and improper records on staffing.

We thank Attorney General Bailey for fighting to protect women and babies from the abortion provider known as Planned Parenthood.

This dangerous situation for women and babies can only be fixed by “Repealing and Replacing” Amendment 3.



Missouri citizens were told by Amendment 3 supporters and Planned Parenthood that these things would not happen. Missouri Right to Life warned of these dangers that are now coming to pass.

Join our battle to “Repeal and Replace” Amendment 3 so we can protect women and babies in Missouri: 

Press release from AG Bailey:

JEFFERSON CITY Mo. – Today (3/13/25), Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a Cease and Desist Order against Planned Parenthood facilities in Missouri, formally prohibiting them from performing chemical abortions in violation of state law. This order is a necessary enforcement mechanism to prevent Planned Parenthood from continuing to disregard Missouri law and to protect the health and safety of Missouri women.

Attorney General Bailey’s decision comes in light of Planned Parenthood’s repeated and knowing violations of state law. The organization has admitted under oath to “refusing to file required complication reports” despite knowing they were required by law, which further substantiates the need for this temporary restraining order to prevent future violations.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey stated, “Planned Parenthood has a documented history of subverting state law, including failure to file complication reports. This cease and desist letter ensures that basic health and safety standards are met. Given Planned Parenthood’s history, I will continue to ensure their compliance with state law.”

Under Missouri statute 407.095, when it appears to the Attorney General that a person has engaged in, is engaging in, or is about to engage in any unlawful activity, the Attorney General has the authority to issue an order prohibiting such unlawful conduct. This authority is essential for enforcing the law and protecting the public from harm.

The FDA acknowledges that over 4.5% of women who undergo chemical abortions experience complications requiring emergency medical care. Despite this, Planned Parenthood has openly admitted that it intends to continue performing chemical abortions in the future and that they do not have an approved complication plan in place, as required by Missouri law.

Planned Parenthood was given the opportunity to respond to the initial cease and desist notice sent last week. In its response, Planned Parenthood claimed that there is “no reason to believe” it would violate the law again. However, substantial evidence, including sworn testimony and state investigations, proves otherwise.

Planned Parenthood facilities in Missouri have repeatedly shown a flagrant disregard for legal requirements that are designed to protect women’s health and safety. Examples of their noncompliance include:

• Blatant Noncompliance with State Law: Dr. David Eisenberg, former medical director at Planned Parenthood, admitted in a deposition that for 15 years, he and others at Planned Parenthood facilities in Missouri refused to file required complication reports, despite knowing it was the law, because they did not expect the state to enforce the law. (Comprehensive Health v. Hawley, No. 2:16-cv-04313, W.D. Mo. 2018).
• Failure to Report Complications: In 2018, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, an abortion provider for Planned Parenthood, admitted under oath that the organization failed to file legally required complication reports. (Comprehensive Health v. Williams, No. 2:17-cv-04207, W.D. Mo. 2018).
• Unsafe Medical Practices: In 2018, state health inspectors shut down a Planned Parenthood facility in Columbia after discovering it had been using moldy medical equipment on women for months. Staff admitted to knowing about the contamination but continued using the equipment on patients regardless. (Comprehensive Health v. Hawley, No. 2:16-cv-04313, W.D. Mo. 2018).

“Planned Parenthood has demonstrated a disturbing pattern of performing abortions without the necessary complication plans, failing to report complications, and willfully violating state law,” said Attorney General Andrew Bailey. “It is my duty to enforce the law and protect the lives and safety of Missourians. Missouri will not tolerate Planned Parenthood’s blatant disregard of the law and the safety of women.”

Under § 407.095, RSMo, violating this order is a felony offense. Planned Parenthood is now legally prohibited from performing chemical abortions in Missouri.

A full copy of the Cease and Desist Order sent to Planned Parenthood Great Plains can be read here.

A full copy of the Cease and Desist Order sent to Planned Parenthood Great Rivers can be read here.

Please make plans to come to the Missouri State Capitol on Wednesday, March 26, for the Missouri Statewide Pro-Life Action Day and help us support our legislators in putting “Protection for Pre-Born Babies and Their Moms” in our Missouri State Constitution!

For bus information for travel to Legislative Action Day, contact the state office at 573-635-5110 or email righttolife@missourilife.org. For bus information from the St. Louis and surrounding area go to: https://www.easternregionmrl.org/actionday.

March 26, 2025 - Statewide - Pro-Life Lobby Day at the State Capitol from 10 am - 2 pm. Mark your calendars.

March 29 - St. Louis - Defenders of the Unborn Jericho Walk at Planned Parenthood - Forest Park Blvd/Boyle Ave. Beginning at 10:00 a.m.

March 29 - Hannibal - Bunco 4 Babies evening for the benefit of MRL from 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the Holy Family Parish Center, 218 S Maple Ave. Doors will open at 6:30 PM. The cost is $25 per person & all proceeds will go to assist Missouri Right to Life in its fight against Abortion. Snacks, desserts & prizes are provided. Contact Nancy McWilliams at 573-406-9023 or Geri Graves 573-795-6559 for reservations or questions.

April 2 - St. Louis - Defenders of the Unborn Rally to defund Planned Parenthood at 1351 Forest Park Blvd. at 12:00 pm. For more information contact Mary -314-346-9052 or email defenseless68@gmail.com.

April 18/19 - St. Louis - Defenders of the Unborn Good Friday morning/closing midnight Holy Saturday prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood Forest Park/Boyle.

April 24 - Moberly - MRL Celebration of Life Banquet, 6:00 pm at the Moberly Municipal Auditorium, 201 West Rollins. Featured Speaker: Kathy Sparks Lesnoff. Click here to download the registration form.