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Statement

America’s Moms: Whether SCOTUS Acknowledges It or Not, We Deserve Emergency Health Care Whenever and Wherever We Need It

June 27, 2024
Reproductive Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the U.S. Supreme Court action today in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States:

“America’s moms wanted one thing from the U.S. Supreme Court in this case: A clear, unequivocal ruling that no pregnant person can be denied emergency health care because our health and our lives matter. Instead of providing that basic assurance, SCOTUS let us down yet again. Today’s action is a deep disappointment. Although women in Idaho have a reprieve, today’s action will put pregnant people in peril by creating potentially life-threatening confusion while we await additional litigation and whatever action extremists in Congress and future administrations may take.

“For nearly 40 years, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) has required most hospitals to give ‘necessary stabilizing treatment’ to people facing emergencies, including those who are pregnant. It is foundational to a civilized, compassionate society and has served our country well. Pregnant people facing medical emergencies sometimes need emergency abortion care and we are grateful the Biden/Harris administration clarified that EMTALA protects this care.

“But SCOTUS refused to confirm that today and left open the possibility that state politicians will force doctors to deny emergency abortion care. It is truly horrifying that three U.S. Supreme Court justices seem ready to allow states to imprison doctors who provide emergency abortion care to patients whose health is at grave risk.

“The rulings SCOTUS has issued on reproductive health over the last two years have devalued and jeopardized moms’ lives, caused immense harm, and exacerbated our already devastating maternal health crisis. Moms will not forget which lawmakers and jurists are responsible for the catastrophe we’re facing today.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.