Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri Responds to Today’s Delivery of Thousands of Petitions Urging Chancellor Loftin to Fully Restore Physician Privileges and Training Contracts

Columbia, MO – In response to news today that students, faculty, and a local group called MU for PP met with Chancellor Loftin and delivered over 2,000 petitions calling on him to reverse the decision to cancel contracts with Planned Parenthood and eliminate privileges at MU Health Care for Planned Parenthood’s doctor, the organization issued the following statement:

Statement from Laura McQuade, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri:

“We urge Chancellor Loftin to listen to the thousands of students, faculty, and community members demanding that he stand up for the rights of students and the lives of all Missourians by fully reinstating both the physician privileges and all training contracts between MU and Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri.”

“Chancellor Loftin’s recent announcement that MU will cover health insurance premiums for graduate student employees next school year gave MU and Columbia hope that he’s willing to do the right thing when it comes to the interests of MU students.”

“The clock is ticking for Chancellor Loftin to restore physician privileges by December 1, a critical step ensuring that the full range of high quality reproductive health care services, including abortion, remain legal, available and accessible in Mid-Missouri. The citizens of Missouri will not tolerate going back to being a single provider state.”

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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.