Missouri AG Sues Planned Parenthood Over Abortion Drug Safety Claims

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has filed a lawsuit against the national Planned Parenthood Federation of America, accusing the organization of violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act by misleading women about the safety of the abortion drug mifepristone. Bailey alleges that Planned Parenthood falsely claims the drug is safer than common over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, despite studies and FDA data indicating serious adverse events occur in over 4.5 percent, and possibly up to 11 percent, of cases. The suit claims Planned Parenthood encourages women to conceal their use of the drug from emergency medical providers, increasing health risks. The lawsuit seeks more than $1.8 million in civil penalties, damages for every Missouri woman who obtained abortion pills in the past five years, reimbursement for state-funded emergency care, and a court order to stop Planned Parenthood’s allegedly false advertising. Bailey characterized Planned Parenthood as endangering women's lives and pursuing a radical agenda by downplaying the drug's risks to cut costs and boost revenue. The dispute centers on the safety profile of mifepristone and the appropriateness of Planned Parenthood’s public statements regarding the drug’s risks.