'This is not a drill': Missouri’s last abortion clinic is being forced to shut down services this week

The sole abortion clinic in Missouri may be forced to shut down services this week after the state declined to renew its license.

According to a statement from Planned Parenthood, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is "refusing to renew" a license required to perform abortions at the clinic, which would still be able to provide non-abortive services.

"This is not a drill. This is not a warning. This is a real public health crisis," Planned Parenthood CEP Leana Wen was quoted as saying in a CBS News report.

If the state's final abortion clinic is forced to stop providing services this week, it would be the first time since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that Missouri has been without an abortion clinic.

Planned Parenthood said it plans to sue "in order to try to keep serving Missouri women."

For its part, the state has accused clinic staff of "deficient practices." Inspectors complained that some members of the staff were not available for interviews. The clinic has until May 31 to obtain a new license.

Missouri and five other states have passed laws in 2019 that effectively ban abortions. The laws have not been put on hold because they are facing challenges in court in each state.