Protecting Emergency Abortion Care in the States – National Women's Law Center

Protecting Emergency Abortion Care in the States  National Women’s Law Center

Abortion care—including emergency care—is under attack. Reaffirming protections in your state ensures pregnant people will receive the care they need. Federal law requires that individuals receive emergency abortion care. These guarantees, however, have been undermined and purposefully muddied, leaving patients and providers confused and uncertain about their rights and the care they should expect to receive or provide. In the most dire circumstances, it has […] Abortion care—including emergency care—is under attack. Reaffirming protections in your state ensures pregnant people will receive the care they need. Federal law requires that individuals receive emergency abortion care. These guarantees, however, have been undermined and purposefully muddied, leaving patients and providers confused and uncertain about their rights and the care they should expect to receive or provide.

In the most dire circumstances, it has led to pregnant people dying or suffering severe consequences. At least one-third of pregnancies involve emergency room visits and up to 15% of pregnancies create life-threatening conditions during the first trimester, making access to timely and proper emergency care critical for anyone who can become or is pregnant. Guarantees for emergency abortion care are particularly important in light of the United States’ worsening maternal health crisis that disproportionately impacts Black and Indigenous women. Pregnant people in your state should feel confident that they will receive the emergency care that