Planned Parenthood Statement on Leaked Supreme Court Decision in EMTALA Case
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2024
WASHINGTON DC — In response to the Bloomberg reporting about the leaked draft opinion in the consolidated cases about a long-standing federal law that protects emergency abortion care in hospital emergency rooms — even in states that ban abortion, Planned Parenthood Federation of America issued the following statement:
Statement from Planned Parenthood Federation of America President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson:
“As written, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to be clear that the federal EMTALA law protects the right to abortion in an emergency in every state — regardless of a state’s abortion ban — and they chose not to. We never should have been here at all. Based on this draft, this litigation will continue in the lower courts. Access is still under threat across the country, but for now, this means that patients in Idaho will be able to get the care they need, according to federal law — after seven months of pregnant people suffering in an unnecessary and possibly deadly legal limbo.”
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) has long been understood to protect emergency abortion care when it is the necessary treatment for a pregnant person experiencing a medical emergency. Enacted in 1986, EMTALA is a federal law that requires hospital emergency rooms that take Medicare funding to provide necessary treatment to people experiencing medical emergencies. Read more about the case here.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With nearly 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S