US Supreme Court Allows Emergency Abortion In Idaho

UNSPLASH/Gayatri ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The United States Supreme Court (US) decided to allow abortion to be carried out in the state of Idaho when pregnant women face a medical emergency.

A decision with a comparison of 6-3, with three of six conservative judges having different opinions, reiterating lower court decisions, the ban on near-independent abortion supported by the Republican Party in Idaho must comply with a 1986 US law known as the Emergency Medical Care and Labor Act (EMTALA).

The version of the verdict was accidentally uploaded to the court website on Wednesday, June 26, which is the second example in two years after the disclosure of a major abortion decision before it was officially issued.

President Joe Biden's administration has sued Idaho, arguing EMTALA was prioritized over state law.

EMTALA ensures patients can receive emergency care at hospitals receiving funds under the federal Medicare program. Idaho is among the six states that implement abortion bans and is no exception to protect the health of pregnant women.

Today's Supreme Court order ensures that women in Idaho can access the emergency medical treatment they need while the case returns to lower courts, Biden said.

No woman can be denied treatment, forced to wait until she almost dies, or forced to leave her home state just to receive the health services she needs. This should not happen in America," Biden added.

Biden, who wants to be re-elected this year, seeks to make abortion rights the core of his campaign, as Democrats try to use the issue for political gain against Republicans in elections.

Trump as president appointed three of the six Supreme Court justices who are the majority in abortion decisions in 2022, and he has been defensive on abortion issues during this year's campaign. Trump said in states banning abortion, he supports exceptions for rape, recess and to protect mother's life, and also supports the availability of in vitro fertilization.