Nicole Karlis

A small portion of patients do visit ERs after an abortion, but it's not because mifepristone is unsafe

By NICOLE KARLIS
MARCH 20, 2024

Next Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will finally hear a case about mifepristone — the first drug used in a medication abortion.

A ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine — an organization of anti-abortion activists backed by the Christian right-wing lobbying group Alliance Defending Freedom — could severely limit access to mifepristone across the country. As women’s health specialists and doctors have told Salon before, the effects of such restrictions will be "devastating,” and have far-reaching consequences beyond impacting reproductive health.

Continued: https://www.salon.com/2024/03/20/yes-some-medication-abortion-patients-go-to-the-er--but-it-may-not-be-for-what-you-think/

Texas and Idaho have challenged whether or not the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act takes priority

By Nicole Karlis, Slate
January 10, 2024

Last week, a ruling in Texas stated that hospitals and emergency rooms in the state are exempt from having to perform life-saving abortions.

Specifically, a federal appeals court ruled that hospitals that receive federal funding in Texas aren’t required to provide life-saving abortions under a federal law known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). The debate on whether or not EMTALA covers abortions dates back to shortly after Roe v. Wade was overturned, when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated EMTALA took priority over state laws. Under EMTALA, hospitals and emergency rooms are required to provide life-saving abortions even where there are strict abortions laws, the Biden administration stated. However, states like Texas and Idaho are challenging this and claiming that EMTALA doesn’t take priority.

Continued: https://www.salon.com/2024/01/10/life-saving-abortion-texas-idaho-emtala/

USA – Yes, some medication abortion patients go to the ER — but it may not be for what you think

“It doesn’t make sense”: What happens when life-saving abortion isn’t protected, despite federal law