Springfield, Mo., Abortion Clinic Closes After Implementation of New Missouri Law

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 27 Oct 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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A Springfield, Mo., abortion clinic unexpectedly closed on Thursday after leading a legal battle against a new abortion-related state law (SB 1), the AP/Belleville News Democrat reports (Lieb, AP/Belleville News Democrat, 10/20). Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt (R) in September signed a bill requiring abortion providers to obtain hospital privileges within 30 miles of their clinics, among other measures (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/20). Violators could face charges punishable by up to 15 years in prison (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/16). The Center for Reproductive Rights in U.S. District Court in western Missouri earlier this month filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Springfield Health Care Center seeking an injunction to prevent the law from taking effect (Kaiser Women's Health Policy Report, 9/20). The physician who performed abortions at the Springfield clinic had privileges at a hospital in St. Louis -- more than 30 miles away -- meaning that the clinic would not have been able to perform already scheduled abortions unless the court blocked the law, clinic administrator Michelle Collins said. The clinic won a temporary stay last month from U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey blocking the law from going into effect (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/16). However, the Springfield Health Care Center board on Wednesday decided to permanently close the facility, saying the decision was unrelated to the lawsuit, the clinic's finances or its patient safety record, according to Collins (Goodwin, Springfield News-Leader, 10/21). As a result of the clinic's closing, the lawsuit will be dropped. "The law will now come into effect very quickly," Sam Lee of Campaign Life Missouri said (AP/Belleville News Democrat, 10/20).

Next Steps
According to Collins, the clinic asked 10 to 15 local physicians and out-of-town doctors if they would offer the procedure, and all have declined (Springfield News-Leader, 10/21). Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri has not decided if it will start providing abortions for the area. PPSM Spokesperson Kellie Rohrbaugh said, "We're not going to make a decision (about) providing health care for women in two days," adding, "Obviously, it's a big decision" (Murphy, Kansas City Star, 10/22). Dave Plemmons, chair of the Springfield chapter of Missouri Right to Life, said the organization will work against any provider trying to fill the closing clinic's place by offering abortions (Springfield News-Leader, 10/21). According to the AP/Belleville News Democrat, the nearest Missouri abortion clinic is 160 miles away in Columbia, Mo., and the other clinics in the region are in St. Louis and Overland Park, Kan., which serves the Kansas City area (AP/Belleville News Democrat, 10/20). Another part of the law allows civil litigation to be brought against anyone who helps a minor obtain an abortion outside of the state without parental or judicial consent (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 9/20). The lawsuit filed by the Springfield clinic resulted in a federal restraining order against this portion of the measure, which will not be affected by the closing of the clinic because a state judge also granted a stay on that segment of the law as a result of a separate lawsuit brought by two Planned Parenthood Federation of America affiliates (AP/Belleville News Democrat, 10/20).

Reaction
"It's just so difficult to provide abortions for patients here when there's zero support from the medical community," Collins said. Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri President Peter Brownlie said that the closing of the clinic will further restrict a woman's access to abortion, adding, "Women have ... a legal right" to reproductive health care procedures, but "that right becomes pretty hollow if there isn't a facility to meet" women's needs. Lee said the clinic's closing is "unexpected but great news." Jessica Robinson, a spokesperson for Blunt, said, "The governor hopes this closing will move Missourians to consider alternatives to abortion so that our state can move forward in embracing a culture that values human life" (AP/Belleville News Democrat, 10/20).

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