Last week the House passed HR 358. A very charitable interpretation is that, as written, it’s ambiguous on what would seem (at least to people who give a hoot about pregnant women) a rather important detail: Does it allow a hospital staff person to let a woman die rather than provide the abortion she needs to save her life?
Supporters of the bill say that it doesn’t come right out and amend the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. EMTALA, which has been the law since 1986, says that hospitals which accept Medicare reimbursements from the government cannot refuse to treat anyone needing emergency treatment. That’s basically the agreement: if you’re a hospital, and you accept Medicare reimbursements, you have to agree to stabilize anyone who shows up needing emergency care, even if they can’t pay, and even if they are not in the country legally.
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