The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed a lower court ruling that bars emergency abortions in violation of Texas’ strict abortion ban to stand.
The decision leaves hospitals uncertain about when they can legally provide pregnancy terminations in life-threatening situations.
On Monday, the justices declined to hear a request from the Biden administration to block the lower court’s decision, which prevents hospitals from being required to perform abortions in emergencies that would otherwise violate Texas law.
The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for its decision.
The administration argued that under federal law, hospitals are obligated to perform abortions in emergencies where the patient’s life or health is at risk.
They pointed to a similar case from Idaho, where the Supreme Court allowed emergency abortions to resume temporarily while litigation proceeded. The administration also cited a ruling by the Texas Supreme Court, which held that doctors do not need to wait until a woman’s life is in immediate danger before performing an abortion, arguing that this ruling aligned Texas law with federal guidelines.
Texas, however, successfully argued that its abortion laws, unlike Idaho’s, include an exception for the health of pregnant patients. State officials contended that there is no conflict between state and federal law, making the lower court ruling necessary to maintain the integrity of the state’s ban.
The case arises amid growing concerns from medical professionals about the ambiguity of Texas’ abortion laws. Doctors argue that the laws lack clarity on what conditions qualify for the health exception, causing hesitation among hospitals and medical professionals. Complaints have surged as pregnant women in medical distress are reportedly turned away from emergency rooms due to fear of violating the state’s strict abortion ban, which carries severe penalties, including the possibility of imprisonment.
Texas has one of the most stringent abortion bans in the U.S., implemented after the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade.
The ruling triggered widespread abortion restrictions in Republican-led states. In response, the Biden administration issued guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions under federal law, which mandates treatment for patients in medical distress.
However, Texas sued, leading the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rule in January that the administration had overstepped its authority by issuing such guidance.
With the Supreme Court declining to intervene, hospitals in Texas remain in a precarious position as they try to balance patient care with strict legal limitations, leaving the future of emergency abortion care uncertain in the state.
