Enforce EMTALA to protect pregnant women seeking emergency care

This administration's decision to rescind guidance reinforcing EMTALA obligations regarding pregnant patients seeking emergency care puts women's lives at risk. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act was established to ensure all individuals receive stabilizing treatment for emergencies, including conditions that jeopardize the health of pregnant women or their unborn children. Failure to enforce this law could result in preventable deaths, as evidenced by past incidents where women experiencing pregnancy complications were denied stabilizing care. Congress has a moral and legal obligation to uphold EMTALA and protect the rights of all patients seeking emergency medical treatment, regardless of their condition. Allowing hospitals to deny stabilizing care to pregnant women with life-threatening complications is a violation of basic human rights and goes against the fundamental principles of the healthcare profession. Lawmakers must take immediate action to ensure that EMTALA is enforced consistently across all states and that no woman is turned away from receiving potentially life-saving emergency care. This issue transcends political affiliations and ideological divides. It is a matter of safeguarding the health and well-being of vulnerable individuals in critical situations. Congress has the power and responsibility to prevent further loss of life by reaffirming the nation's commitment to EMTALA and holding healthcare facilities accountable for upholding this essential legislation.