Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issues directive mandating hospitals to provide “emergency” abortions regardless of upcoming Supreme Court ruling

06/24/2024 / By Olivia Cook

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has issued a directive mandating hospitals in the state to provide “emergency” abortions regardless of any legal decisions by the courts.

Inslee claims this directive will ensure access to life-saving care for women experiencing severe pregnancy complications, such as ectopic pregnancies, incomplete miscarriages and infections in the uterus that could easily lead to sepsis.

Inslee emphasized that the state will continue to offer emergency abortions even as the Supreme Court considers a case from Idaho that could affect federal protections for such procedures. The governor ordered the Washington State Department of Health to make sure hospitals comply with this law and take action against those that do not. (Related: Supreme Court hears oral arguments on whether the Biden Administration can force doctors in emergency rooms to perform abortions.)

At a news conference in Seattle, Inslee stressed the ongoing battle to protect a woman’s right to choose whether or not to retain a pregnancy and kill an unborn child. He stated that Washington hospitals must follow national standards for emergency care, which include providing necessary abortions.

A study from the University of Washington showed a 50 percent increase in out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Washington since the fall of Roe v. Wade. Cedar River Clinics, which operates in several Washington cities, has reported a similarly significant rise in patients from neighboring states that have restricted access to abortion services.

Supreme Court case could end mandates for hospitals to perform “emergency” abortions

The pending Supreme Court case – Idaho and Moyle, et. al. v United States – will decide if Idaho’s abortion ban can override federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA. This law requires hospitals to treat emergency conditions, including those needing “emergency” abortion care or “necessary stabilizing treatment” for pregnancies.

Inslee’s directive reads: “Abortion care is health care. For decades, practicing health care providers and other medical experts have determined abortion care to be the safe and effective standard of care for people who exercise their right to choose or need to end their pregnancy to avoid adverse health outcomes.”

Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington, claimed that restrictive abortion laws pose a danger to women and that these laws prevent doctors from providing timely, life-saving care.

She said: “How close to death must somebody be before a doctor can step in and provide care? The fact that laws now exist limiting a doctor’s ability to save a life is simply mind-boggling to me. When I, or any doctor, has a sick patient in front of me, I shouldn’t have to pause and consult with the hospital’s legal team to figure out if I’m able to act. Within a matter of seconds wasted, a patient’s health, future fertility and life are put on the line.”

Healthcare providers in Washington expressed their commitment to offering necessary emergency services and reproductive health care. They affirmed that decisions about abortions should be made by patients and their doctors–not restricted by legal barriers.

“Providence facilities do not deny emergency care, including for complex pregnancies or situations in which a pregnant person’s life is at risk. Our clinicians exercise their best medical judgment and provide all necessary interventions to protect and save the life of the mother,” according to the statement sent by a representative from Providence Inland Northwest Washington to The Spokesman-Review.

“Everyone should have full access to the health care services they need, including reproductive medicine. We believe that the decision to have an abortion–whether that be an in-person surgical procedure or an oral medication prescription–should be one made by the pregnant individual and their provider. This is not a new position for MultiCare, but one we have been committed to for decades as a community-based, secular, not-for-profit health system,” read the statement from MultiCare Health System.

Watch this video about the Supreme Court weighing whether federal law allowing emergency abortions overrides state bans.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.