In the suit filed Monday in Cole County Circuit Court, lawyers for Planned Parenthood and a St. Louis area woman ask for an order barring Secretary of State Robin Carnahan from putting the initiative on the ballot. The plaintiffs argue that the initiative would effectively outlaw most abortions, violating Roe vs. Wade.

The petition drive is being organized by a group called Stop Forced Abortions, which hopes to get it on the ballot in November 2008. It would allow doctors to be found "medically negligent" if they perform abortions without finding that they are necessary.

Paula Gianino, president of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, called the initiative "extreme and dangerous." David Reardon, one of the petition organizers, suggested that Planned Parenthood's opposition shows the group does not want "good screening" of women seeking abortions.

"For those who don't want to do proper counseling, this is an impediment to assembly-line abortions and profiteering," he said.