A nearly 40 year-old federal law guarantees access to abortion to protect the lives or health of patients in medical emergencies, even in states that have abortion bans. Idaho, however, has insisted since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022 that its ban applies even to patients whose lives are at risk.
On Wednesday, March 5, the Trump administration ended a federal lawsuit started under President Biden to make Idaho follow the federal law. The result of Trump administration’s decision is that Idaho women are at greater risk of death, infertility or other permanent injury, because doctors are concerned about being prosecuted or losing their medical licenses under the near total abortion ban. Relatedly, Idaho has lost over 20% of its OB/GYNs since the constitutional right was overturned less than three years ago.