Democrats introduce resolution showing support in U.S. House of Representatives
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats on Thursday introduced a resolution that would clarify when health care providers can perform abortions as emergency medical care, as state laws vary, leading to dozens of cases of women experiencing complications. Or the story of being turned away from the emergency room during a miscarriage.
Two page resolution will express the “view of the House” that abortion is a form of stable care under a 1980s law called the Emergency Medical Care and Affirmative Labor Act.
“Since Roe v. Wade was overturned more than two years ago, we’ve heard horrific stories of pregnant women being turned away from emergency rooms or unable to get the life-saving care they need because of cruel state abortion bans, despite The federal Emergency Medical and Labor Act, also known as EMTALA, requires emergency rooms to treat and stabilize pregnant patients,” Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, said at a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol.
Sykes said the resolution would clarify that women have access to a full range of reproductive health care services “in life-or-death situations.”
Mikie Sherill of New Jersey quoted AP analysis Since 2022, more than 100 women have been denied or neglected care in emergency rooms because of pregnancy distress.
“It’s an anger,” Sherrill said. “Lives are at risk. Despite clear federal law and additional guidance from the Biden administration, states across the country are refusing to treat pregnant women in emergencies.
The resolution would not actually change the language of EMTALA or enact any new law, but would express “the view of the House that everyone has a fundamental right to emergency health care, including abortion care.”
Biden administration Send an open letter Two years ago, EMTALA protected physicians and qualified health care professionals who performed abortions to protect the health of a pregnant patient or to save the patient’s life, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion.
“No matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care, including abortion care,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra wrote at the time.
This interpretation of EMTALA was challenged by many Republican states and was ultimately appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court this year.
However, the judges decided in June send case back Writing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the high court heard the case too early and should have waited until a lower court heard the case and issued a ruling.
Court of Appeal Arrange to hear oral argument case in early December.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said at a news conference that the resolution is necessary to ensure that women in states that ban or severely restrict abortion can consider all options with their doctors when their life or health is at risk.
“We are here because emergency medical care is a legal right and a moral obligation,” Clark said. “This is a simple resolution. To Democrats, it’s common sense.
