The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today to deny access to emergency abortion care in Idaho v. United States and Moyle v. United States. Dr. Avenel Joseph, vice president for policy at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, released the following statement in response:
Nearly two years to the day that Roe v. Wade was overturned, the Supreme Court has once again relegated women to second-class status in the United States. It is astonishing to read a majority opinion that is so indifferent to the plight of individuals seeking emergency health services and that treats with such visceral hostility the healthcare providers who take an oath to provide that lifesaving care.
Today’s ruling means that pregnant people who need stabilizing care to protect their health—a right enshrined under federal law since 1986—no longer have that peace of mind. Rather than being able to depend on an emergency room provider, they are instead subject to the whim of state laws that now have carte blanche to arbitrarily deny that care. Not a single person in this country will be helped by this outrageous ruling, but—as data from Idaho already demonstrate—many will be hurt by the resulting needless delays to necessary medical care.
We believe that everyone in the United States—regardless of gender, income level, ZIP code, insurance status, or race/ethnicity—deserves access to the full range of reproductive healthcare services. While today’s ruling needlessly pushes our country even further away from reaching this goal, those of us who are committed to achieving it will fight even harder in its wake.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact media@rwjf.org.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to improving health and health equity in the United States. In partnership with others, we are working to develop a Culture of Health rooted in equity that provides every individual with a fair and just opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they have.
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