Judge rules Planned Parenthood clinics dispensing RU-486 must follow law

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri judge ruled Friday that a state law that enforces health and safety standards for surgical abortion clinics also regulates clinics that dispense the abortion-inducing drug RU-486.

The judge issued his ruling during a hearing in a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood against Missouri Director of Health and Senior Services Jane Drummond, who is being defended by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund.

"The health and welfare of Missourians is worth more than Planned Parenthood’s bottom line," said ADF Legal Counsel Dale Schowengerdt, who argued before the court.  "The court was right to determine that the law was not designed to give clinics that dispense RU-486 a pass when it comes to safety regulations that all medical facilities must follow."

In a separate federal lawsuit, a district court judge determined in September of last year that Planned Parenthood was unlikely to succeed in having a state law declared facially unconstitutional that holds surgical abortion clinics to the same safety standards as other medical facilities.  When Planned Parenthood challenged the law, Drummond retained ADF attorneys to represent her in the case.

ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.