A Missouri appeals court has ordered Planned Parenthood to turn over documents related to its exposed practice of taking minors across state lines for secret abortions without parental consent.
The court ruled in favor of Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in a significant legal victory for the state.
The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District affirmed Bailey’s authority to compel Planned Parenthood to provide records as part of an investigation into gender-related medical treatments and secret abortions done on minors in other states. The court rejected Planned Parenthood’s objections, which cited privacy concerns and legal limitations, allowing the state to move forward with its probe into whether the organization violated Missouri law.
Bailey’s investigation stems from allegations that Planned Parenthood has engaged in transporting minors out of state for abortions without parental notification, a practice that violates Missouri’s parental consent laws under Section 188.250 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
A 2024 investigative video, cited by Bailey’s office, shows Planned Parenthood staff admitting to removing minors from school using falsified medical documentation, transporting them to Kansas for abortions, and returning them without parental knowledge or consent.
Planned Parenthood Great Plains, one of the affiliates named in the investigation, has argued that Missouri’s recently passed Amendment 3, which enshrines abortion in the state constitution, protects their illegal actions and trafficking of teens.
The organization filed a countersuit in March, claiming the amendment grants a constitutional right to traffic teenagers without parental consent. Bailey has called the claim a misinterpretation of the law, emphasizing that parental rights remain paramount under state statutes.
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Bailey’s legal action alleges that Planned Parenthood has been caught on camera admitting to creating fake doctors’ notes to remove minors from school, transporting them to out-of-state abortion clinics, and returning them without their parents’ knowledge. The lawsuit cites Missouri law, which prohibits intentionally aiding a minor in obtaining an abortion in another state without parental consent.
“Our children deserve to be protected—not trafficked across state lines for dangerous and clandestine abortion procedures,” Bailey said in a statement. “Planned Parenthood’s countersuit is a disgraceful attempt to twist the law into a shield for its reckless and immoral behavior.”
As LifeNews previously reported, Project Veritas conducted an investigation in which a journalist entered a Kansas City, Mo. clinic asking how to get an abortion for a 13-year-old. The male reporter was met with certainty and confidence from the staff that although the procedure is illegal in Missouri, the minor could be sent to Kansas for the procedure, and no one would need to know. This not only includes parents, but staff at the school.
“We can give a doctor’s note,” said the Planned Parenthood managing director known only by her first name, LeShauna, “We just cut off the letterhead.”
The undercover reporter asked the managing director how often they send minors into neighboring Kansas for the procedure.
“Every day,” she said, and repeated, “every day.”
The dispute centers on Amendment 3, a measure recently passed by Missouri voters that Planned Parenthood argues establishes a constitutional right to abortion, including facilitating abortions for minors. Bailey, however, contends the amendment is being exploited to undermine parental rights and state laws designed to protect young women.
“Opponents of Amendment 3 warned that it was a legal monstrosity that bad actors would exploit,” Bailey said. “Planned Parenthood is taking it one step further by also undermining parental rights and exploiting young women. They should be ashamed.”
Bailey’s office has vowed to continue fighting what it calls Planned Parenthood’s “open defiance” of state law.
The case is expected to test the boundaries of Amendment 3 and could have broader implications for abortion access and parental rights across state lines. A court date has not yet been set.
The lawsuit seeks a court order enjoining Planned Parenthood from concealing sexual offenses committed against minors, and for conspiring to transport minors across state lines for abortions in violation of state statute. Bailey also called upon state policymakers to use the tools necessary to permanently defund Planned Parenthood. As part of the lawsuit the AG’s office will be conducting its own investigation. Planned Parenthood could be facing administrative, civil, and criminal penalties.
