The Kentucky Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled a lawsuit, filed by Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration that claims Planned Parenthood performed nearly two dozen abortions without a license, may proceed.
The court noted the lower court wrongly dismissed the case.
The state’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services filed a lawsuit in early 2016 against Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, Inc., claiming the abortion vendor performed the procedure illegally without a license at its new location in Louisville. The Jefferson Circuit Court, however, ruled the lawsuit was without merit.
“We applaud today’s Court of Appeals ruling allowing this important case to proceed,” said Steve Pitt, Bevin’s general counsel. Pitt continued:
The facts are clear and alarming: Between Dec. 3, 2015 and Jan. 28, 2016, Planned Parenthood’s Louisville facility performed 23 abortions without proper licensing or emergency safeguards in place. This disregard for both the safety of women and the rule of law is simply unacceptable, and Planned Parenthood must be held accountable.
Bevin has made it clear he intends to hold Planned Parenthood accountable when it comes to the health and safety of women.
In 2016, the governor also signed a bill into law that strengthened the state’s informed consent law prior to an abortion. The law requires women to have a face-to-face or live video chat with a medical consultation about the procedure at least 24 hours prior to an abortion.
Additionally, Bevin signed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act, which requires the abortion provider to perform an ultrasound prior to the procedure and allow the mother to view it if she chooses. The law also requires the abortionist to provide a description of the baby to the mother and to offer her an opportunity to hear the baby’s heartbeat.
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