Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D., president, California Medical Association (CMA), issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that prevents states from denying abortion care if terminating a pregnancy is required to save the patient’s health or life. 

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today is at least a temporary victory for patient rights. For 40 years, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act has played an essential role in helping to stabilize pregnant people facing medical emergencies. With as many as 15% of pregnancies experiencing potentially life-threatening conditions, it is critically important that states with abortion bans are not allowed to endanger the lives of pregnant people by denying them the emergency care they need. 

As physicians, we at the California Medical Association stand strongly in support of the fundamental right to access reproductive health care services. While we are relieved that the Court ruling today prevents states from denying emergency medical care to pregnant patients, we know this fight is not over.

CMA will continue to steadfastly champion policies that ensure that patients can get the care they need, when and where they need it, and that personal medical decisions can be made by individuals, in consultation with their health care providers, not by ideologically driven lawmakers or judges.”