Supreme Court Announces Decision to Allow Idaho Hospitals to Provide Emergency Abortion Care, Sends Case to Lower Courts
For Immediate Release: July 1, 2024
RENO, NV — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court today issued a ruling in the highly anticipated case concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) and Idaho’s abortion ban even in the case of medical emergencies. In a leaked opinion, the Court dismissed challenges against the Biden administration’s inclusion of emergency abortion care in EMTALA protections as “improvidently granted” while refusing to make a decision on the key legal questions at the heart of the case.
The court however, did allow a lower court ruling upholding EMTALA protections for emergency abortion care to stand while the case once again works its way through the lower courts. The decision, or lack thereof, shows the court’s increasing politicization especially around issues of abortion care since the court overturned Roe v. Wade in its Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in the summer of 2022.
Statement of Lindsey Harmon, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada:
“There is no denying that the anti-abortion majority on the Supreme Court is continuing to play politics with the health and lives of the millions of Americans who depend on access to abortion care to live full, healthy lives. While the people of Idaho can breathe more easily knowing they will once again be able to access emergency abortion care, if only briefly, this is a moment to take stock of the importance of having a President who believes and upholds the values of reproductive freedom.
This case was brought about by anti-abortion extremists who are trying to fight against the Biden administration’s efforts to ensure that emergency abortion care remains protected even in states with abortion bans in place. Make no mistake, this is not the last we will see of this case and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that Nevadans know that President Biden and his administration is responsible for protecting abortion access in the wake of former-President Trump’s anti-abortion policies.”
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Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada is a statewide non-partisan, 501 (c) 4 non-profit organization that advocates and educates on issues of reproductive health care, with special consideration for advancing equitable access to abortion in an effort to empower all Nevadans, no matter income, race, gender, sexuality or immigration status to maintain and expand access to quality health care.