Supreme Court justices appeared sharply divided today over whether federal law should allow doctors to perform emergency abortions in states that have adopted near-total bans on the procedure.
The federal government argued that the Idaho measure violates a federal law requiring hospitals to stabilize or transfer patients with urgent medical issues.
A broad decision could especially affect abortion access in the 14 states that have enacted near-total bans.
“It could telegraph to states that what Idaho is doing either is or is not OK, and that could change those states’ abortion bans one way or another,” Pam said.
“If the justices side with Idaho, it could also say to states that ‘abortion isn’t the only thing you can restrict.’”
Persons:
Pam Belluck, ” Pam
Locations:
Idaho