From the Editor's Desk

Supreme Court's nondecision jeopardizes emergency abortion care - STAT (No paywall)

By dismissing a case that would have determined whether emergency abortion care is encompassed under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), along with other protected emergency care services, the Supreme Court of the United States has opened the door for states to deny women stabilizing and often lifesaving medical procedures.

For nearly 40 years, EMTALA has protected access to emergency services regardless of a person’s ability to pay, citizenship, or legal status. By requiring hospitals to screen, stabilize, treat, or transfer patients in need of emergency care, EMTALA has ensured that anyone needing lifesaving care receives it. Abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. While some are performed by choice in nonemergency situations, abortions are also needed when pregnancies are no longer viable or when they endanger a mother’s life. Medically necessary abortion care should not be considered any less essential than other protected emergency care provided by hospitals.

Continued here

TradeBriefs: Newsletters for Decision-Makers!