Missouri AG Takes Legal Action Against Planned Parenthood for Abortion Pill Ads

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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey accused the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in a new lawsuit of promoting misleading information about the safety of the abortion pill, mifepristone. The lawsuit claims that supporters of abortion access have falsely represented mifepristone as being safer than Tylenol and other common medications on Planned Parenthood’s national website.

Bailey is seeking $1.8 million in civil penalties for allegedly violating Missouri’s false advertising statutes and up to $1,000 in restitution for every woman in Missouri who has been prescribed mifepristone from Planned Parenthood since 2020.

The lawsuit argues that Planned Parenthood is indirectly endangering women by sharing misleading information about mifepristone and that it actively solicits Missouri residents through its website to find providers willing to prescribe the medication.

On its website, Planned Parenthood has reportedly provided inaccurate information to induce women to make appointments. The lawsuit argues this as an explicit violation of Missouri law.

However, the lawsuit’s claim that 4.6% of women who undergo medical abortion land in emergency rooms has provided no evidence to back it.

A review of mifepristone’s effects by the Ethics and Public Policy Centre found out that over 10% of patients face a serious event, including sepsis, infection, or hemorrhage.

Bailey’s action against Planned Parenthood is part of a broader legal dispute between Planned Parenthood and Missouri. The situation escalated after Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment for abortion rights in the November 2024 election.

In retaliation to Bailey’s accusations, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which operates in Missouri, has filed a separate lawsuit against him, claiming a cease and desist order he threatened to issue violates the new constitutional amendment. This legal battle is still ongoing.

Last May, Missouri’s Republican lawmakers approved a new motion which asks voters whether they want to revoke the recently approved abortion rights amendment and instead ban abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases involving rape, incest, or risk to the pregnant woman’s life. This issue will be put to Missouri voters in November 2026 unless Republican Governor Mike Kehoe calls for a special vote prior to that date.

Editor’s Note: This Article was originally published by the Washington Examiner and is reprinted here with their permission.