The Center for Reproductive Rights expanded its work on behalf of women denied abortion care by filing parallel complaints in Idaho, Tennessee and Oklahoma September 12, 2023. The new complaints seek to ensure that people facing severe pregnancy complications in those states can access abortion care and that doctors have clarity on “medical emergency” exceptions in their states’ abortion bans.

Below are news and media highlights on the filings:

News from the Center for Reproductive Rights

• News Coverage: Hearing in Blackmon v. State of Tennessee, 04.05.24
• Tennessee Medical Exceptions Case Hearing Scheduled for April 4, 03.28.24
• More Women Denied Abortion Care Join Center’s Case Against Tennessee, 01.08.24
• Press release: More Women Join Abortion Lawsuit Against Tennessee, 01.08.24
• Press release: Idaho Court Rejects State’s Attempt to Throw out Case Brought by Women Denied Abortions, 12.29.23
• Press release: State of Tennessee Attempts to Dismiss Case Filed by Women Denied Abortions in Dangerous Situations, 11.02.23
• Press release: State of Idaho Tries to Dismiss Women Denied Abortions in Dire Situations, 10.31.23
• Center Expands Work on Behalf of Patients Denied Abortion Care Despite Grave Pregnancy Complications, 09.12.23
• Press release: Women Denied Abortions File Legal Actions in Idaho, Tennessee, and Oklahoma, 09.12.23

Media Highlights: April 4 Hearing in Tennessee Case

A hearing in Blackmon v. State of Tennessee was held April 4 in a Tennessee state court in Nashville. At the hearing, the Center’s attorneys urged the Court to block the state’s abortion ban as it applies to dangerous pregnancy complications and lethal fetal conditions.

View media highlights here.

Media Highlights: September 12 Filings

• “Tennessee & Idaho Are Using Cruel Attacks to Dismiss Lawsuits Against Their Abortion Bans,” Jezebel, 11.02.23
• “‘Hopeless and frustrated’: Idaho’s abortion ban is driving doctors out of the state,” CBS Mornings, 10.31.23
• “Faced with abortion bans, doctors beg hospitals for help with key decisions,” Washington Post, 10.28.23
• “The Devil Is in the Details. And There Are So Many Details,” This American Life, 10.21.23
• “Tennessee’s abortion law threatened my life. I’m suing on behalf of my deceased daughter,” The Tennessean, 09.25.23
• “Local doctor joins lawsuit aimed at clarifying Idaho’s abortion laws,” Idaho Mountain Express, 09.21.23
• “‘My life was on the line, too’: How 1 mom joined the fight against restrictive abortion laws in her state,” Today, 09.14.23
•  “Midstate women sue state over abortion ban,” WSMV, 09.14.23
• “When a fetal scan showed problems, she fled Idaho for an abortion—now she’s suing,” The Guardian, 09.13.23
• “Women denied abortion care, physicians sue Idaho over abortion bans,” Idaho State Journal, 09.13.23
• “I didn’t want an abortion. I needed one. Idaho made it degrading. I’m fighting back,” Idaho Statesman, 09.13.23
• “Woman in Tennessee Was Denied Abortion Despite Fetus Growing Organs Outside Itself,” Jezebel, 09.13.23
• “Physicians, women sue 3 states over abortion bans,” Becker’s Hospital Review, 09.13.23
• “Abortion rights group sues on behalf of women denied emergency care,” News Nation, 09.13.23
• “Lawsuit says Tenn. abortion ban gives patients two choices: out-of-state abortions or stillbirth,” WKMS, 09.13.23
• “Oklahoma abortion law at center of federal complaint,” Oklahoman, 09.13.23
•  “Women forced to give birth to stillborn babies, wait in hospital parking lot until ‘actively crashing’ in order to get emergency abortion care: Complaints,” Law and Crime, 09.13.23
• “Women with serious pregnancy complications sue over state abortion bans,” Cherry Creek News, 09.13.23
• “Lawsuits challenging abortion bans in 3 states could have big implications for health care,” CBS News, 09.12.23
• “New lawsuits to come over near-total abortion bans in Idaho, Oklahoma and Tennessee,” CBS News, 09.12.23
• “Abortion rights group sues on behalf of women denied care in emergencies,” Washington Post, 09.12.23
• “Legal Actions Seek Guarantee of Abortion Access for Patients in Medical Emergencies,” New York Times, 09.12.23
• “Women challenge abortion bans in three states after emergency care denied,” The Guardian, 09.12.23