Missouri's last abortion clinic to temporarily stay open in Planned Parenthood case

They handed the motorists leaflets with anti-abortion messages, though activists on both sides of the emotional debate said this is a common occurrence at the clinic.Planned Parenthood officials hailed Friday's judicial reprieve, even if it is temporary.“While we celebrate this temporary victory, we cannot forget that too many people are already forced to delay or entirely forgo care here in Missouri," said Dr. David Eisenberg, who is the medical director for reproductive health services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region.“This is a great day for the people of Missouri but the fight is not over.”The state of Missouri's health department has maintained that it has the right to ban abortions at the clinic if doctors who perform the procedure don't submit to questioning as a condition of license renewal.Planned Parenthood says many of the doctors at the clinic are not their employees, so they can't force them to comply with the questioning.Planned Parenthood claims the health department "is refusing to renew" its St. Louis clinic's license in a deliberate effort to shut it down.Gov. Mike Parson said his administration will look forward to arguing in court that it's simply enforcing the state's standard regulations."Following today’s ruling, the state will soon have the opportunity for a prompt legal review of our state health regulators' serious health and safety concerns regarding Planned Parenthood’s abortion facility in St. Louis," he said in a statement."We are committed to and take seriously our duty to ensure that all health facilities in Missouri follow the law, abide by regulations, and protect the safety of patients."Missouri is among half a dozen states that have recently passed sweeping new anti-abortion laws, sharply curbing women's access to the medical procedure.Gov. Parson last week signed a bill that bans abortions on or beyond the eighth week of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest.States with GOP-led legislatures are pushing anti-abortion measures in hopes of re-visiting Roe v.