University of Missouri nixes contracts with Planned Parenthood, keeps one standing

COLUMBIA, Mo. — An article by the Columbia Missourian Tuesday says the University of Missouri system and MU Health Care has cancelled 10 contracts Planned Parenthood following investigations by state lawmakers into a Columbia facility providing abortions.

Earlier this summer, former Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey formed the Interim Committee on the Sanctity of Life following the controversial release of hidden-camera footage that allegedly depicted Planned Parenthood staff selling fetal tissue.

At a tense committee hearing last month, lawmakers chided university officials for their partnership with Planned Parenthood, which included the option for nursing and medical students to do a rotation at the facility, which just recently began performing surgical abortions again after a hiatus.

Several Republican lawmakers were intensely critical with the school over their relationship with Planned Parenthood, calling on the state’s largest publicly-funded university to reconsider its arrangement.

The university still has one standing arrangement with Planned Parenthood through the School of Social Work.

Update: an earlier version of this brief noted that the University of Missouri had completely cut ties with Planned Parenthood.