Complaints about pregnant women being turned away from emergency rooms in the U.S. have spiked after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to federal documents obtained by The Associated Press. Cases have raised alarms about the state of emergency pregnancy care in the U.S., especially in states with strict abortion laws. Despite federal mandates requiring emergency rooms to treat or stabilize patients in active labor, incidents of pregnant women being denied care have been reported.
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments about potentially weakening protections that require emergency rooms to provide medical care to pregnant patients. The Biden administration has sued Idaho over its abortion ban, arguing that it conflicts with federal law. Pregnant patients have become “radioactive” to emergency departments in states with extreme abortion restrictions, leading to situations where women in distress are turned away without receiving proper medical treatment.
Several incidents have been documented where pregnant women were denied emergency care, including one woman who miscarried in a hospital lobby restroom after being refused admission. Despite federal laws that mandate proper treatment of pregnant patients, some hospital staffs have failed to comply, resulting in devastating outcomes. Emergency rooms risk hefty fines and loss of Medicare funding if they do not comply with these regulations.
The threat of penalties keeps many hospitals from turning patients away and compels them to provide necessary care, ensuring that pregnant women in distress receive the treatment they need. The Biden administration and top U.S. health officials have stated their commitment to enforcing the law that mandates emergency rooms to provide stabilizing care to pregnant patients. The White House maintains that hospitals must provide care to patients, including abortions, if they receive Medicare funds.
The potential implications of the Supreme Court’s decision could impact states with strict abortion laws, raising concerns about the future of emergency pregnancy care. EMTALA was introduced to prevent hospitals from turning away patients, and weakening these protections could lead to more incidents of pregnant women being denied care. The government’s focus on investigating and addressing complaints of patients being denied emergency care underscores the importance of upholding federal regulations to ensure all patients receive the treatment they need.
