Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Responds to SCOTUS Hearing on Emergency Care Case
April 24, 2024
Shelby McMichael, Communications Manager
SACRAMENTO — Today the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that threatens the ability of pregnant people in states with abortion bans to get the emergency medical care they need— including abortion care. The case seeks to undermine a federal law— the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)— that requires hospital emergency rooms to provide stabilizing treatment for patients experiencing a medical emergency.
Jodi Hicks, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California issued the following statement in response to the hearing:
“Extremists who oppose abortion won't stop attacking our rights. Now politicians want to deny life-saving, stabilizing care to pregnant people. If the Supreme Court ultimately allows states to ignore federal law and prevent hospitals from providing emergency abortion care to patients in medical emergencies, people will suffer, and even die, from pregnancy complications.
Anti-abortion politicians and their allies are willing to endanger the lives of pregnant people, their health, and their future fertility in their pursuit of restricting reproductive rights nationwide. This is about control— over our lives, bodies, and futures, and making abortion out of reach at every turn. Cruelty is the point.
While patients in California will continue to be able to access abortion care, including in medical emergencies, regardless of the decision in today’s case, this is not true for over 25 million people who live in or travel to the 22 states with abortion bans. Despite the cruel, misguided arguments presented in this case by anti-abortion extremists, everyone must be able to get the medical care they need, when they need it, including abortion.”
###