Missouri clinic to keep abortion license during court battle

A judge has allowed a Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic to keep its abortion license until at least Dec. 30.

U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey on Wednesday said she’ll block the Department of Health and Senior Services from revoking a Columbia clinic’s license during a legal battle over its licensure.

Planned Parenthood sued Monday, arguing the health department unfairly tried to revoke its license without giving the clinic enough time to comply with a state law requiring physicians to have hospital privileges.

Even with a license, the clinic cannot terminate pregnancies because it has no doctor with privileges.

That’s because MU Health Care medical staff voted to discontinue in December the type of privileges the physician held amid a legislative abortion investigation.

Missouri now has only one clinic offering abortions.