Missouri Sues Planned Parenthood Over Deception on Abortion Pill Safety
Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeks millions in damages, citing violations of state law and risks to women’s health from chemical abortions.
JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced Wednesday that his office has filed a lawsuit against the national Planned Parenthood Federation of America, accusing the organization of violating state consumer protection laws by spreading false and dangerous claims about the abortion drug mifepristone.
The lawsuit, filed under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, alleges that Planned Parenthood has systematically misled women—especially in Missouri—about the risks of chemical abortion in order to increase profits and avoid costly safety protocols.
“The national Planned Parenthood organization is actively endangering the lives of women and girls across the country by spreading lies and disinformation about the powerful chemical abortion drug,” said Bailey in a press statement. “I will not allow a death factory to lie to Missouri women in pursuit of its radical agenda.”
According to the Attorney General’s office, Planned Parenthood’s website claims that mifepristone is “safer than many other medicines like penicillin, Tylenol, and Viagra”—despite FDA data showing that more than 4.5% of women who take the drug experience serious complications requiring emergency care. New research, Bailey notes, places the rate of adverse effects closer to 10%.
The lawsuit points out that these misleading claims are not limited to a national audience. Planned Parenthood’s digital content specifically targets Missouri women, directing them to local affiliates to obtain abortion pills based on what the state calls “false and reckless” information.
More troubling, the suit alleges that Planned Parenthood encourages women to hide their chemical abortion from emergency room doctors—dramatically increasing the risk of delayed or improper medical treatment.
Attorney General Bailey is seeking over $1.8 million in civil penalties, up to $1,000 in damages for each Missouri woman who received abortion pills from Planned Parenthood in the past five years, reimbursement for state-funded emergency care, and a court order to stop the deceptive marketing immediately.
“Comparing the labeled use of one drug with the misuse of another in a safety claim is disingenuous,” the lawsuit states. “Under Missouri law, it’s also illegal.”
Bailey concluded, “No one is above the law—not even Planned Parenthood. The lies must stop.”
The case is likely to draw national attention as the legality and safety of abortion drugs continue to spark political, legal, and moral debate across the country.
Earlier this month, UOJ-America reported CDC data relating to the drop in maternal mortality following the repeal of Roe V. Wade.
