Abortion records are compiled from the Abortion Reports which were filed with the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) by state law. The abortions system was in place in Missouri continuously from 1975 until 2026 (see Comprehensive Health v State of Missouri et al, Case No: 2416-DV31931), although changes in data items and definitions have taken place over the years. Information received by DHSS from these reports is confidential and is only used for statistical purposes.
Abortion is defined by statute (Missouri Revised Statute, Chapter 188) as the act of using or prescribing any instrument, device, medicine, drug, or any other means or substance with the intent to destroy the life of an embryo or fetus in his or her mother’s womb or the intentional termination of the pregnancy of a mother by using or prescribing any instrument, device, medicine, drug, or other means or substance with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth or to remove a dead unborn child.
Missouri cooperates with other states in the exchange of abortions records. However, some states only provide counts of Missouri resident abortions and not individual records.
A purpose and function of the Abortion Reports received by Missouri DHSS was to preserve maternal health and life by adding to the sum of medical knowledge through the compilation of relevant maternal health and life data and to monitor all abortions performed to assure that they were done only under and in accordance with the provisions of the law.