Post-Roe Repercussions as ERs Deny Care, Leading to Miscarriage
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, reports from The Associated Press indicate that pregnant women have faced refusals of care at U.S. emergency rooms. Instances include a woman who miscarried in the lobby of a Texas emergency room after being denied admission, and a woman in North Carolina who was forced to give birth without an ultrasound because the emergency room could not provide one.
These incidents have heightened concerns about the adequacy of emergency pregnancy care, especially in states with stringent abortion laws. Under federal law, emergency departments are mandated to treat or stabilize patients in active labor and arrange medical transfers if necessary resources are not available. This federal requirement is currently under scrutiny as the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments that may diminish these protections.
In a related move, the Biden administration has taken legal action against Idaho's abortion ban. The administration asserts that the state's ban conflicts with federal law, which guarantees access to emergency medical treatment. The outcome of these legal challenges could significantly impact the landscape of emergency care for pregnant women in the United States.
