IDAHO, USA — Two years after the repeal of Roe v. Wade, change seems unlikely to come anytime soon. However, a group of women were protesting the decision on a downtown corner in Boise today. SW Idaho Chapter of the National Organization for Women President Cindy Thorngren said they are mourning the death of women's rights.
"Today is the anniversary, awful word, for the Dobb's decision," Thorngren said. "We're here saying we don't like that. Not much we can do about it right now, but we are here and we are going to complain."
Thorngren said her organization knows of women having to be flown out of state to get emergency medical care since the appeal. Idaho is one of 14 states that have partial or total bans on abortion.
Idaho was also one of 12 states that used a "trigger law" prior to the Supreme Court's decision. That ensured abortion would be banned in Idaho immediately if the court repealed.
Since that time, as KTVB has reported, there has been a mass exodus of women's healthcare doctors from the state, and a number of women have come forward telling their stories about the healthcare system in Idaho.
"Most of us are mothers out here protesting for the rights of our kids," Thorngren said. "Things need to change back. Women need to be trusted to work with their families and their doctors to save their health."
That point is something Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates — Idaho agrees with.
"Today marks two years since the U.S. Supreme Court removed the federal right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, unleashing a nationwide public health crisis. Idaho has been testing ground for some of the most extremist laws in the nation, fighting all the way to the Supreme Court to allow its abortion bans to let pregnant patients die in medical emergencies or be airlifted out of state," a news release stated.
The organization said it plans to fight back this November at the polls. Idaho State Director Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman said the majority of Idahoans want more moderate policies.
"Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court unleashed a nationwide crisis that is playing out in devastating ways across the state of Idaho. After the state's barbaric abortion bans went into effect, we have seen patients airlifted out of the state to access emergency care, patients forced to raise money to access care out of state and physicians leaving the state out of fear of jail time for simply doing their jobs. The Idaho Republican Party's recently approved platform that would establish fetal personhood and ban IVF demonstrates what we have long known: our way out of this public health crisis is through the ballot box. In this critical election year, you can bet that Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates will be fighting with everything we have to oust the anti-abortion extremists who have created this crisis. We know these policies are contrary to what the vast majority of Idahoans want, and we will prove that in November," she stated.
Stanton Public Policy Center, associated with Stanton Healthcare, disagrees. Stanton is an anti-abortion organization. Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Public Policy Center, said Stanton will not rest until abortion becomes unthinkable in the United States.
Her full statement:
"In a post- Roe America, our commitment is to make sure every woman facing an unexpected pregnancy has access to life-affirming quality medical care, compassionate resources, tangible support, and hope. This is especially true for minority and underserved communities. Stanton is passionately working to end 'abortion abuse.' Abortion on demand has created an undue burden on millions of women who are often pressured into unwanted and forced abortions. This occurs most often by someone they trust, which is typical of other forms of abuse. At Stanton, we stand with women, and we believe their stories. Abortion trauma is real. Abortion abuse needs to stop. Our message is clear: forced, coerced, or pressured abortions are abusive and criminal. We will ensure that the full weight of the law is upheld to protect women, prevent forced abortions, and end abortion abuse and trafficking. Through our public policy center, the strong voices and stories from the clients, medical professionals and advocates of Stanton helped pass the 'Defense of Life Act' which is the basis for the 'Idaho v. United States' Supreme Court case. Strong and empowered women went passionately to the Idaho State Capitol to work for an end to abortion violence, and ensure women were protected from abortion abuse. Stanton will not rest until abortion becomes unthinkable and abortion abuse comes to an end in our nation."
After Roe v Wade was repealed, the Biden Administration sued, claiming the ruling infringed on the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA.
EMTALA is a federal law enacted in 1986, that stopped something called "patient dumping." Prior to EMTALA, patients that couldn't afford their healthcare would be forced to transfer from larger hospitals to hospitals that provide indigent care. The law ensured no one could not be turned away because of an inability to pay, giving everyone access to emergency healthcare.
In the argument, Merrick Garland, the U.S. Attorney General said if a woman is in an emergency room and needs an emergency abortion, she must legally be able to receive that care.
"If a patient comes into an emergency room with a medical emergency jeopardizing the person's life or health, the hospital must provide the treatment necessary to stabilize that patient, this includes abortion when that is the necessary treatment," Garland said.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the arguments they heard in April over the case between June 26 to June 28.
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