Medical Emergency Exceptions to State Abortion Bans
Medical Emergency Exceptions to State Abortion Bans: Idaho, Tennessee and Oklahoma
Complaints filed to ensure pregnant people in dire situations can access abortion care and that doctors are given clarity on “medical emergency” exceptions in their state’s abortion bans.
In March, the Center for Reproductive Rights filed the country’s first lawsuit representing women denied abortion care since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to abortion and cleared the way for states to ban it entirely. That case, Zurawski v. State of Texas, brought national attention to the real-life harm of extreme state abortion bans.
The Center expanded on that work in September, filing complaints concurrently in three states—Idaho, Tennessee and Oklahoma—on behalf of women denied or delayed in receiving medically necessary abortion care despite facing severe and dangerous pregnancy complications. With these actions, the Center seeks to ensure that pregnant people in such dire situations can access abortion care in these states, and that doctors are given clarity on what situations qualify under the “medical emergency” exceptions in their states’ extreme abortion bans.
In addition to eight pregnant patients denied care, the Center is representing a local Idaho medical association and four physicians who argue they are unable to provide care to patients because of the bans’ harsh criminal, financial and professional penalties.
Abortion is a standard, necessary and life-saving procedure crucial in treating many dangerous medical conditions that arise during pregnancy. But in states that have criminalized abortion, patients facing grave pregnancy complications are being denied medically indicated abortion care—even when their health, lives and future fertility are at risk.
Read about the complaints filed concurrently in the three states:
- Center Expands Work on Behalf of Patients Denied Abortion Care Despite Grave Pregnancy Complications, 09.12.23
More about the complaints:
Stories: Patients and Physicians
Read about the experiences of the patients and physicians being represented by the Center.
News on the Filings
News from the Center and media highlights on the complaints filed in Idaho, Tennessee and Oklahoma.
Idaho Case
Adkins v. State of Idaho challenges the limited scope of the medical exceptions to Idaho’s two abortion bans.
Tennessee Case
Blackmon v. State of Tennessee challenges the limited scope of the Emergent Medical Condition Exception to the state’s abortion ban.
Oklahoma Complaint
This complaint accuses an Oklahoma hospital of violating federal law for refusing to provide abortion care to a woman in a life-threatening emergency.
Denied abortion care?
The Center for Reproductive Rights is dedicated to helping all people access abortion in their communities, including people who are denied care while facing pregnancy complications. If you have been denied care and want to speak to a lawyer about your options, please reach out to [email protected].
