Reactions keep pouring in from Friday’s ruling in Jackson County striking down several restrictions on abortion in Missouri.
Friday’s ruling from Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang was part of the effort to implement Amendment 3, which Missouri voters passed in November and which overturns the state’s near-total abortion ban.
The pro-life group “Missouri Stands With Women” condemned the ruling, saying the health and safety of women are being put in danger.
“Today’s decision puts a target on minority children, as well as for girls,” said Stephanie Bell, spokeswoman for Missouri Stands with Women. “A Missouri judge agreed with Planned Parenthood that the Missouri Constitution allows Big Abortion to profit from abortions because of the race or gender of the child. With this ruling Missouri is no different than Communist China where sex selective abortions are routinely performed.”
The group specifically cited the striking down of a law that requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at hospitals that provide OB/GYN care.
“This dangerous decision puts women who have abortions in danger, because when doctors botch abortions, they cannot treat them at a hospital nearby,” Bell said. “If a woman arrives at the emergency room bleeding and unconscious, the abortion doctor will be nowhere to be found to explain how the woman ended up in that condition in the first place.
Gillian Wilcox, Director of Litigation for the ACLU of Missouri, disagreed.
“Hospital-based providers across the state are able to provide more care today than they could yesterday now that the fear of criminal prosecution has been removed,” Wilcox said. “We will continue to fight until Missourians’ constitutional rights are fully recognized by the courts.”
Judge Zhang’s ruling left some regulations in place, including a requirement that abortion providers be licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Further legal action is expected but when that might happen is unknown.
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