Idaho v. United States Digital Toolkit

Idaho v. United States and Moyle v. United States -- a consolidated case (often referred to simply as Idaho v. United States) that would have national implications on the safety of pregnant women seeking life-saving care.

In short, the case calls into question the ability of doctors to follow the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) when faced with a pregnant patient. EMTALA guarantees treatment for emergency medical conditions to prevent serious risk to a patient’s health, but Idaho’s abortion ban only allows doctors to provide emergency abortion care to prevent a patient’s death. Anti-abortion activists hope that a ruling upholding state abortion bans over EMTALA’s federal patient protections will clear the way from more cruel bans and allow ‘states rights’ to trump longstanding federal laws whenever it suits their political interests.

Let’s be clear: This case is about Republicans being so hellbent on banning abortion that they would rather women die than receive necessary, life-saving abortion care.

In a potential preview of SCOTUS’ intentions: After a federal district court in Idaho issued a stay on implementation while the case works its way through the courts, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case and allowed the law to go into effect -- blocking EMTALA for pregnant patients who need emergency abortion care in Idaho at least until their full ruling comes this year. That means women in Idaho are being denied emergency abortion care because they are pregnant right now.

Nothing about the Idaho ban, and its subsequent attempt to override federal law, is based in medical reality. It is solely another attempt by Republicans to steal from women their rights to bodily autonomy and freedom -- and it comes at the literal cost of their lives. When we talk about the price of MAGA extremism, when we say this is (once again) “the most important election of our lifetimes,” this is what we mean. It is on each of us to do everything we can to prevent MAGA from achieving its goals. Yes, for our freedoms, but also for our very lives. Use this digital toolkit to help us spread the word about what's at stake.