Welcoming Clarity in Protection of Both Women and Preborn Children

WASHINGTON – “We welcome the government’s decision to restore clarity to the federal law that ensures that all people, including both pregnant mothers and their preborn children, can receive necessary emergency care at hospitals,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in response to Tuesday’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had rescinded guidance from 2022, which had attempted to require abortions in certain circumstances under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

Bishop Thomas continued, “The guidance that was imposed three years ago introduced unnecessary confusion into health care settings in the form of an abortion mandate. It is important to recognize that, when necessary, there are morally and legally permissible procedures to save the life of a mother in a health crisis, even when they may result in the terrible loss of her child. The government’s attempt to force doctors to perform direct abortions, however, defied the purpose of the long-standing EMTALA law, which is to help save the lives of vulnerable women who arrive at emergency rooms and, if they are pregnant, the lives of their babies as well. We are grateful for Tuesday’s rescission announcement and will continue to encourage policies that ensure high-quality and accessible health care to all people in need.” 

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