Federal Court Upholds Texas Ban on Certain Emergency Abortions
A federal appeals court ruled that the Biden administration cannot enforce a 1986 emergency care law to mandate Texas hospitals to perform abortions when a woman's life is at risk due to pregnancy. This decision is part of ongoing legal battles following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 decision to end federal abortion rights. The court's opinion stated that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires hospitals to stabilize both the pregnant woman and the fetus, not to provide an unqualified right to abortion. The ruling contrasts with the 9th Circuit's decision in an Idaho case, which is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.