Roe v. Wade: Health and Human Services Says Doctors Must Offer Abortion if Mother's Life at Risk

After the Roe v. Wade repeal, the Health and Human Services Department announced that hospitals and doctors must provide abortion procedures if the life of the mother is at risk.

CBS News reported that the department added it forestalls state laws in jurisdictions that now prohibit the medical procedure after the Supreme Court's ruling that ended the landmark precedent to abortion, deeming it a constitutional right.

The emergency treatment guideline is officially called as Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. It requires medical facilities to decide whether a person seeking treatment may be in labor or if they face an emergency health situation.

HHS's guidance noted that if a medical provider believes that a pregnant patient is showing an emergency medical condition, as defined by the law, the physician must provide abortion if it is the "stabilizing treatment necessary to resolve that condition."

It also noted that it preempts the state law that does not include an exception for the life of the mother.

Health and Human Services Emergency Treatment Guideline

The department noted in a Reuters report that the emergency conditions included in the guideline are ectopic pregnancy, a complication of pregnancy loss, or emergent hypertensive disorders. An example of hypertensive disorders is preeclampsia with severe features.

The emergency treatment guideline does not introduce a new policy but rather a reminder for the medical providers and physicians of their obligations under federal law.

U.S. President Joe Biden had asked on Sunday to consider whether he has the authority to declare an abortion-related public health emergency.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday that declaring abortion as a public health emergency would not release resources. Jean-Pierre cited the heavy federal spending in the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and monkeypox.

The White House press secretary told reporters that it was the reason why the administration has not taken that action yet. However, she said that everything is on the table.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that medical emergencies are not limited to cited instances. Becerra added that women have the right to emergency care, covering abortion care, no matter where the life, as stated under the law.

Roe v Wade and Abortion Access

Biden signed an executive order on Friday in response to the Supreme Court repealing Roe v. Wade. The executive order is focused on protecting abortion access across the country despite the abortion bans enforced by some states, according to an ABC News report.

Biden said that it was not "some imagined horror," adding that it is already happening. The president then referred to the 10-year-old girl, who was a rape victim and was forced to travel out of state to terminate the pregnancy.

The White House noted that the executive order directs Attorney General Merrick Garland and the White House counsel to gather volunteer lawyers and organizations.

The president also mentioned that he will provide leave for federal workers traveling for the medical procedure.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: US President Joe Biden signs order on abortion access after Roe v Wade court ruling - from Evening Standard