Missouri’s only abortion clinic awaited a decision on Friday whether it can remain open until August when an arbiter will hear Planned Parenthood’s challenge of the state health department’s reluctance to renew the clinic’s permit.
Planned Parenthood, the female health and abortion provider operating the hospital, lodged a lawsuit with Missouri’s Administrative Hearing Commission on Tuesday after the group questioned the disapproval of the government health department in the state court and a judge referred the matter to the commission.
The clinic will have to stop offering abortion services on Friday if the committee does not grant its application for an injunction to remain open until its original hearing date on Aug. 1.
Missouri health authorities declined last week to renew the St. Louis clinic’s license on the basis that it failed to satisfy their requirements. If Missouri authorities were able to close the clinic, it would become the only U.S. state without a legal abortion facility.
“The terrifying reality is that access is hanging on by a thread with a narrowing timeline,” said Dr. Colleen McNicholas, a physician at the clinic, in a statement.
On Monday, Judge Michael Stelzer awarded a temporary injunction enabling the clinic to stay open until Friday at 5 p.m. CT (2200 GMT), pending the commission’s judgment, which serves as an autonomous arbiter in conflicts between state organizations and people or organizations.
Abortion is one of America’s most divisive problems. Missouri is one of 12 nations to pass legislation limiting access to abortion this year, some directed at provoking a U.S. Supreme Court review of landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision recognizing the constitutional right of a woman to terminate her pregnancy.
State authorities said one of their requirements for renewing the clinic’s permit was to be permitted to interview several doctors who were engaged in what they said was numerous life-threatening abortions at the clinic.
Planned Parenthood officials said they don’t employ all of the clinic’s staff directly and can’t force some health employees to give interviews.
