WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration took a significant step on Wednesday by moving to dismiss an emergency abortion lawsuit in Idaho. This marks one of its initial actions on the topic since President Trump began his second term.
The Justice Department’s motion aimed to allow Idaho to enforce its strict abortion ban, even during emergencies. However, a judge swiftly blocked this move after doctors raised concerns that it could force them to evacuate patients to other states for essential care to avoid legal issues. During an emergency hearing, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill referred to the government’s action as a “ticking time bomb” for Idaho hospitals, which have also filed their own lawsuit to maintain their position.
The Biden administration argued that emergency-room physicians must be able to perform abortions if needed to stabilize patients. Idaho, known for having one of the strictest abortion laws in the nation, contended that their law does allow for life-saving abortions and accused the Biden administration of misinterpreting federal law.
Doctors in Idaho expressed uncertainty about when an abortion would be legally permitted in urgent situations, highlighting the difficulty of making quick decisions in emergencies. For instance, St. Luke’s Health System reported that it airlifted six patients out of state for treatment between January and April 2024, whereas only one such transport occurred throughout all of 2023.
“These parents want to keep their children but face a severe health crisis,” said attorney Lindsay Harrison, who represents St. Luke’s. She described the time as a “natural experiment” that demonstrated the severe consequences when doctors must choose between federal mandates and state laws.
On the other hand, Idaho’s Deputy Attorney General Brian Church argued that the successful transfers to out-of-state hospitals prove there is no conflict between federal and state abortion laws. He stated, “No medical situation necessitates an abortion for stabilizing care,” a claim Judge Winmill questioned, pointing out that Church lacks medical training.
Reports surfaced that after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, many pregnant women were turned away from emergency rooms, creating confusion over what medical care hospitals could legally offer. During Trump’s first term, he appointed many of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the constitutional right to abortion. Trump has since commented that such decisions should belong to individual states.
Dropping the lawsuit was viewed by some as a “big win” for unborn children in Idaho and for women, according to Kelsey Pritchard from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. The Supreme Court previously weighed in on the Idaho case and allowed hospitals to determine emergency pregnancy terminations while leaving critical legal questions unanswered. The case is currently pending in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Brittany Fonteno, president of the National Abortion Federation, expressed disappointment over the administration’s decision to withdraw, stating it’s heartbreaking for women across the country and that this case carries significant implications.
Each year, around 50,000 individuals in the U.S. experience life-threatening pregnancy complications, which can include severe blood loss, sepsis, or loss of reproductive organs. In certain cases, doctors might need to terminate a pregnancy to protect the pregnant person’s health, especially when the fetus has no chance of survival. Serious conditions that could require this include placenta-related issues, preeclampsia, and severe heart or kidney problems, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Since 2022, many states led by Republicans have enacted new abortion restrictions. At present, 12 states have total bans on abortion, with limited exceptions, while four states impose bans around six weeks of pregnancy, often before women even realize they are pregnant.
Source link
Donald Trump, Idaho, Abortion, Womens health, Pregnancy and childbirth, U.S. Department of Justice, Lawsuits, Legal proceedings, General news, ID State Wire, Food safety, U.S. news, Idaho state government, Lindsay Harrison, Supreme Court of the United States, Emergency care, Politics, Washington news, Susan B. Anthony, Health, Brian Church, U.S. News
