KANSAS CITY, MO. (CN) - Clinics that provide only"medication abortions" should not be required to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers, Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri Inc. claim in Jackson County Court.
House Bill 1055 requires surgical licensing for clinics that perform or induce any second- or third-trimester abortions per month, or five or more first-trimester abortions per month.
The Department of Health and Senior Services interpreted the Act as applying to any facility that provides five or more medication abortions a month. Medication abortions use a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol - a female hormone and a synthetic steroid - to induce abortions.
Plaintiffs say the Act imposes "significant obstacles on women seeking an abortion" and violates the equal protection clause. See complaint.
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