Statement on the current administration rescinding guidance related to EMTALA:

Statement from Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, on the current administration rescinding guidance related to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA):

““It is disgraceful that we are still debating whether it’s ok that patients experiencing life-threatening pregnancy complications should be able to be turned away, delayed, or denied appropriate treatment. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is not just a policy—it’s a lifeline. EMTALA ensures young pregnant people receive urgent, lifesaving care, including abortion, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

“This is not hypothetical—it’s already happening in states with abortion bans, where doctors fear prosecution for doing their jobs.

“Pregnancy complications don’t wait for politicians to debate their details. They come on without warning. I’ve experienced both a miscarriage and a life-threatening pregnancy. I know firsthand how fast things can go from stable to critical. Denying emergency care in those moments isn’t just negligence—it’s cruelty.

“This is not complex. It is not a gray area. Enforcing EMTALA saves lives, while failing to do so costs them. The fact that this is even a question is a national moral failure.”