California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a statement reaffirming the state's commitment to protecting the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) in light of upcoming oral arguments in the case of Idaho v. United States. This case, currently before the Ninth Circuit Court, is pivotal in ensuring that patients continue to receive necessary emergency medical care, including abortion services.
Bonta emphasized the importance of EMTALA as a critical element of patient rights and access to emergency healthcare. "At the California Department of Justice, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protecting EMTALA, a cornerstone of patients’ rights and equitable access to emergency medical care, including abortion care," he stated. He stressed that "no one in this country should be denied emergency medical care in their time of greatest need."
The ongoing legal battle follows Idaho's enforcement of an abortion ban post-Roe v. Wade's overturn by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022. This state law poses significant challenges for healthcare providers who risk criminal charges and license revocation if they perform abortions deemed medically necessary under EMTALA.
Idaho v. United States is part of a broader legal discourse following Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, where Roe v. Wade was overturned after decades as a legal precedent. In August 2022, a preliminary injunction was secured by the Biden administration from the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho to prevent enforcement of Idaho’s ban conflicting with EMTALA.
While Idaho appealed this decision to the Ninth Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court initially took up the case but later dismissed it without ruling on whether EMTALA mandates hospitals provide abortion care during emergencies regardless of state laws.
The Ninth Circuit now faces the task of addressing this appeal concerning EMTALA's requirements and its interplay with state legislation like Idaho's abortion ban.