{"id":324466,"date":"2025-01-14T06:46:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T12:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=324466"},"modified":"2025-01-13T16:38:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T22:38:39","slug":"washington-governor-emergency-abortion-codified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/washington-governor-emergency-abortion-codified\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington governor wants ’emergency abortion’ rule codified as he leaves office"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Washington Governor Jay Inslee is leaving office and will be replaced by Governor-elect Bob Ferguson (also a Democrat) next week. On his way out, Inslee is attempting to strengthen the state’s pro-abortion laws to ensure they remain in place after he leaves office.<\/p>\n

In a directive<\/a> to the Washington State Department of Health, Inslee called for so-called ’emergency abortion care’ to be codified<\/a> into law. He wrote, “I hereby direct the Department of Health to adopt a rule requiring hospitals that provide emergency services to offer and provide treatment, including abortion where warranted, to a pregnant person with an emergency medical condition according to the standard of care or to make a legally authorized transfer. The rule must prohibit hospitals from withholding care because a person is pregnant, and from prioritizing the continuation of a pregnancy or the health of an embryo or fetus over the health or safety of the pregnant person without their informed consent.”<\/p>\n

He continued, “I direct the Department to adopt this rule on an emergency basis because, given the likelihood of imminent changes to federal abortion policy that would interfere with access to emergency abortion care and imperil the health of pregnant persons in Washington state, immediate adoption is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, and general welfare.”<\/p>\n

In June 2024, Inslee first issued<\/a> a directive forcing all hospitals to commit abortions in emergencies. He told the Department of Health at the time to take action against any hospital that does not commit abortions, claiming, “A woman’s right of choice is still under attack in the state of Washington, a reality we simply have to face. We have been locked in this battle to protect a women’s right of choice. We’re making it clear so that everybody will understand the rules. We’re understanding how draconian this has been in women’s rights across the state of Washington.”<\/p>\n

At the time, the Washington State Hospital Association released a statement<\/a> supporting Inslee\u2019s directive but noted that they were already required by law<\/em> to provide emergency care to a pregnant woman.<\/p>\n

There is a difference, however, between induced abortion<\/em> and providing the standard of care in emergencies<\/a>.<\/p>\n