_Tatyana Monnay is a sophomore journalism major at MU. She is an opinion columnist who writes about politics for The Maneater._
In the latest fight to keep safe abortions available to women, two Missouri Planned Parenthood affiliates filed a federal lawsuit in protest of Missouri abortion restrictions.
The lawsuit, filed in 2015, protests the legitimacy and necessity of a Missouri law that requires health centers that perform abortions to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers. According to the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, an ambulatory surgical center enables a facility that is not a hospital to offer safe surgeries and procedures.
Missouri also requires abortion performing health centers to have hospital admitting privileges. Having this privilege allows the health center to refer patients to a nearby hospital if they need additional services, according to the Missouri Revised Statutes Regulation of Abortions.
Together, the Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri sued multiple public officials in Missouri, including Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Knight, former Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and Peter Lyskowski, former director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
In the latest development of this case, a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit reversed a previous decision to allow Planned Parenthood to perform abortions while fighting these requirements in court.
This would prevent Planned Parenthood from performing abortion services in Columbia, forcing patients seeking abortions to go to a single provider in St. Louis, according to a press release from Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri.
This injunction ignores the Supreme Court precedent established in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.
In a 5-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the laws calling for certain requirements for abortion performing centers were too restrictive, making it virtually impossible for women to receive abortions.
Missouri lawmakers are attempting to push the same kind of restrictions on Missouri women, which is not right or legal.
The requirements in that case are extremely similar to the laws that are making it extremely difficult for Missouri Planned Parenthood abortion performing clinics to provide safe abortions to women in the area.
In a press release Dr. Brandon Hill, CEO of Comprehensive Health Of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said, “if these laws are allowed to take effect, women will now have to travel farther, wait longer, and use more of their own resources to access the health care they need most — if they can get care at all.”
Abortion is just one of those things that U.S. politicians cannot get over. It is very clear that abortions are legal. However, because it doesn’t align with their personal views, some politicians just can’t help themselves.
This is not just a case of morality. It is also a case of legality. What these politicians are doing is illegal. It was proven in Texas, and it will be proven again. How many women will suffer before this decision is made?
This injunction should be reversed, and Missouri abortion regulations should not be enforced while this lawsuit continues. This will only hurt women.
Missouri lawmakers have a duty to their constituents to not trample on their rights. It is a woman’s right to have access to a safe health facility that provides abortions, regardless of whether or not lawmakers agree with her choice.