OP-ED
By Jodi Hendricks, Executive Director, New Mexico Family Action Movement
June 12, 2025
Last week brought a quiet but deeply significant victory for life, liberty, and the integrity of the medical profession. The Trump Administration formally rescinded a Biden-era policy that sought to misuse a long-standing federal law—the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)—to impose an abortion mandate on emergency room doctors nationwide. This course correction not only protects unborn children but also upholds the right of medical professionals to act according to their conscience and honors the rights of states to protect life within their borders.
EMTALA was enacted in 1986 under President Reagan to stop the dangerous practice of “patient dumping”—when hospitals refused emergency care to individuals who were uninsured or unable to pay. The law ensures that emergency rooms provide stabilizing care to all patients. It was never about abortion. Yet in 2022, the Biden Administration issued guidance claiming EMTALA required hospitals to provide abortions in certain emergency situations, even if doing so would violate state law or a physician’s moral or religious convictions.
This reinterpretation was both legally unfounded and ethically troubling. It attempted to override state laws and force doctors to choose between federal compliance and their deeply held beliefs.
In Catholic Medical Association v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), joined by 63 other organizations and individuals, represented the Catholic Medical Association—a national network of more than 2,500 healthcare professionals. The case argued that the Biden Administration’s policy exceeded its legal authority and violated long-standing conscience protections.
Now, with the Biden-era guidance withdrawn and the lawsuit dismissed, emergency room doctors will no longer be pressured to perform abortions against their will. This is a victory for human dignity, religious freedom, and the right of states to uphold laws that protect unborn life.
At its core, this issue is not just about abortion—it’s about the proper limits of government power. States like New Mexico have the right to craft policies that reflect the values of their citizens. Federal agencies should not be in the business of rewriting established laws to push ideological agendas.
It also speaks to the importance of conscience rights in medicine. Physicians should never be forced to violate their convictions, especially in matters of life and death. Doing so undermines both ethical care and the trust patients place in their doctors.
This case is a reminder that even in a polarized political climate, the rule of law still matters. Federal agencies are not free to reinterpret legislation to suit the preferences of the moment. When they do, it is essential that organizations like ADF—and the many who partner with them—stand up for life, liberty, and truth.
We are grateful to ADF for their leadership and to every individual and organization that joined this fight. While challenges will continue, this decision marks a meaningful step toward restoring the integrity of emergency medicine and protecting those who care for others.
The battle for life and freedom is far from over—but this is a moment to pause, give thanks, and press forward.
