Planned Parenthood of Kansas & Mid-­‐Missouri Addresses Kansas Court of Appeals Hearing on Senate Bill 95

Topeka – All 14 members of the Kansas Court of Appeals today heard a challenge to Senate Bill 95 which would have banned second trimester abortions by Dilation and Evacuation (D and E). Doctors Hodes and Nauser of Overland Park, Kansas and Center For Reproductive Rights asked the higher court to continue to block enforcement of the medically dangerous law.

“SB 95 violates women’s constitutional rights to access a safe, legal surgical abortion method. Once again, lawmakers attempted to practice medicine without a license, passing a bill that has no medical basis and would deny women access to the safest medical care based on their individual circumstances,” Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Missouri President and CEO Laura McQuade said.

Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri commends their partners at the Center For Reproductive Rights and Doctors Hodes and Nauser in their continued fight to ensure health care decisions are made between women and their doctors.

“Lawmakers need to stay out of the doctor’s office and leave medicine to trained experts. We feel confident the court will see that the D and E method is the safest and most commonly performed second trimester abortion procedure. Ultimately, the Kansas court’s decision could have far reaching implications for future medically unnecessary and restrictive laws,” McQuade said. 

Planned Parenthood is a vital resource for our community and for women and families throughout Kansas and Missouri. We are a trusted advocate and source of health care and education for thousands of women, men, and children. For 80 years, women have relied on Planned Parenthood to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy.