Courthouse News Service. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CN) – Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the state of Missouri in federal court Tuesday in an attempt to stop the state’s sweeping abortion bans.
Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, signed a bill May 24 banning abortions on or after the eighth week of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. In addition to the eight-week cutoff, the bill also imposes a penalty of up to 15 years in prison for doctors who violate the ban. Women who receive abortions would not be prosecuted.
The bill, which is set to become law Aug. 28, also includes an outright ban on abortions if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned.
Missouri has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, with a 72-hour waiting period in addition to the impending eight-week ban.
