By MEG OLIVER, KATE SMITH CBS NEWS June 19, 2019, 6:34 PM

Planned Parenthood of St. Louis one step closer to losing license over state pelvic exam regulation

Last Updated Jun 19, 2019 7:58 PM EDT

St. Louis — Planned Parenthood of St. Louis, Missouri's last remaining abortion clinic, told CBS News exclusively that it will no longer conduct a second pelvic exam that state regulators have recently mandated. Planned Parenthood doctors say the examination is "unethical" and stand by the decision even as it moves the clinic one step closer toward losing its license.

The abortion clinic said Wednesday that it would no longer comply with regulators' interpretation of state law regarding the pelvic exams. Beginning soon, doctors at the clinic said they would conduct a pelvic exam only at the time of the procedure — which is when they deem it medically relevant — not at the initial consultation 72 hours prior.

The announcement came just two days before a judge-mandated deadline for the state's health department to make a final decision on whether to renew Planned Parenthood's abortion license.

"We are choosing to provide the best quality, patient centered care that we've always provided at Planned Parenthood," said Dr. David Eisenberg, the clinic's medical director, in an interview with CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver. "And that includes doing things that are driven by science, by evidence, and by what's medically appropriate."

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