AG James fights to protect access to reproductive health care

New York Attorney General Letitia James continued her fight to protect nationwide reproductive health care access and limit the effect of dangerous abortion bans. Co-leading a multistate coalition with California, Attorney General James filed two amicus briefs in U.S. District Courts in Idaho and Texas arguing that near total bans on abortion conflict with the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), which has consistently been interpreted to require healthcare providers to administer immediate emergency medical services to patients, including abortion care when required. In the briefs, the coalition of 21 attorneys general explains that abortion care has always been considered emergency care under EMTALA and failing to provide emergency abortion care harms pregnant patients and imposes pressures on the healthcare systems of neighboring states.  

“An assault on people’s rights anywhere is an attack on people’s rights everywhere. The actions being taken by Idaho and Texas are being watched by other states throughout the nation, and by anti-choice forces here in New York,” said Attorney General James. “States that are restricting access to abortion care are endangering people’s lives and creating a public health crisis. Access to safe abortion care is about saving lives and recognizing the right to bodily autonomy and privacy. New York will continue to lead the way and fight for abortion rights and reproductive freedom for all Americans.”   

Image courtesy of thesatimes

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