Federal judge hands down a devastating decision against Planned Parenthood in Missouri

A federal judge ruled against the objections from Planned Parenthood against a Missouri law that is keeping them from re-opening their abortion services in Columbia.

Missouri requires that physicians at clinics providing abortion services have admitting privileges at a hospital, but Planned Parenthood sought an exemption from the rule because they were denied at a nearby hospital.

U.S. Western District Court Judge Brian Wimes ruled that Planned Parenthood had not proven their argument that the rule constitutes an "undue burden" on a woman's constitutional right to abortion.

Wimes concluded in the decision that "the record does not provide a basis in evidence to approximate the number of women who will forego or postpone surgical abortion incidental to the inoperability of the Columbia Facility."

This leaves only one clinic providing abortions in Missouri, located in St. Louis.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains CEO Dr. Brandon Hill criticized the ruling and said it was the result of politicians ignoring medical facts.

"Let's call this what it is — politicians ignoring medical evidence to push sexual and reproductive health care out of reach for people across Missouri," Hill said.

"Abortion is incredibly safe," he added, "yet politicians continue to pursue restrictions that defy medical experts and make abortion as inaccessible as possible. Missourians deserve better."

Presumably, Dr. Hill meant abortions are incredibly safe for the pregnant women, and not for the aborted children.