Attorney General Merrick Garland alleges that Idaho legislation violates a guideline for doctors and hospitals to perform abortions in medical emergencies| Photo: EFE/EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS
The United States Department of Justice announced this Tuesday (2) that it has joined with a lawsuit against the state of Idaho over a pro-life law that will take effect in 20 of August.
From that date, the abortion at any stage of pregnancy will be a crime punishable by up to five years in prison in the state, unless the procedure is to save the mother’s life or in cases of rape or incest.
The Department of Justice alleges that legislation violates a directive issued in July by the administration of President Joe Biden for doctors and hospitals across the country to perform emergency medical abortions.
The Democratic administration claims that federal legislation provides for abortions to be performed as a “necessary stabilizing treatment” for health. save the life of the pregnant woman or avoid serious risks to her health in emergency situations in situations such as ectopic pregnancy, hypertension and preeclampsia, among others.
Attorney General Merrick Garland claimed Tuesday that Idaho law does not provide for exceptions in cases of serious risks to the mother’s health, and for that reason the federal government decided to file the lawsuit.
The guideline is challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Texas government, which argues that federal law does not specifically state that an abortion must be performed in these situations.
The lawsuit against Idaho is the first abortion-related lawsuit the Biden administration has filed against a US state since the US Supreme Court’s June decision that overturned federal jurisprudence in Roe v. Wade, from 1973, and returned to the American states the freedom to legislate on the subject.
Get our newsletters
By registering for our newsletters, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, including receiving content and promotions from Gazeta do Povo. Unsubscribing can be done at any time at this link.
