Tennessee Judges Say Doctors Can't Be Disciplined for Providing Emergency Abortions

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: US News and World Report/AP

Oct. 17, 2024, at 8:08 p.m.


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A three-judge panel on Thursday ruled that Tennessee doctors who provide emergency abortions to protect the life of the mother cannot have their medical licenses revoked or face other disciplinary actions while a lawsuit challenging the state's sweeping abortion ban continues.

The ruling also outlined specific pregnancy-related conditions that would now qualify as “medical necessity exceptions” under the ban, which currently does not include exceptions for fetal anomalies or for victims of rape or incest.

“This lack of clarity is evidenced by the confusion and lack of consensus within the Tennessee medical community on the circumstances requiring necessary health- and life-saving abortion care,” the ruling stated. “The evidence presented underscores how serious, difficult, and complex these issues are and raises significant questions as to whether the medical necessity exception is sufficiently narrow to serve a compelling state interest.”

The judges determined that the following medical conditions now fall under the state's abortion exemptions: premature rupture of the amniotic sac that surrounds the fetus; inevitable abortions; fatal fetal diagnoses that result in severe preeclampsia or mirror syndrome associated with fetal hydrops; and fatal fetal diagnoses leading to an infection that will result in uterine rupture or potential loss of fertility.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/tennessee/articles/2024-10-17/tennessee-judges-say-doctors-cant-be-disciplined-for-providing-emergency-abortions

[lark]

1. This is only logical, the law as written was ridiculous and anti-life.

Of course I believe abortion should be available for anyone up to fetal viability, but killing a woman due to an unviable fetus is just anti-life and woman hating. Glad the judge didn't hate women as much as TN legislators do.

[Ramsey Barner]

2. This limited injunction does not block CRIMINAL prosection of doctors

However, the judges also said that because they are a chancery court, they do not have the jurisdiction to block the criminal statute inside the ban — where violators face felony charges carrying a prison sentence as high as 15 years.

This means that while doctors will not face disciplinary actions from the Attorney General's office and the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, they could still risk criminal charges under Thursday's ruling.

[republianmushroom]

3. A little bit of sanity.

[4catsmom]

4. this will be overturned in 3..2..1..

GOP stupidity and cruelty is rife in TN