A federal district court on March 17 issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Idaho’s near-total abortion ban in emergency situations, in a lawsuit brought by St. Luke’s Health System to challenge the ban. The injunction protects St. Luke’s Health System and its medical providers from prosecution for delivering abortion care needed to stabilize a patient under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).
St. Luke’s Health System filed its lawsuit after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed its separate challenge to Idaho’s law earlier this month. The court’s decision restores protections previously in place under an earlier injunction in the DOJ case, which was dissolved when the agency dropped its suit on March 5.
Under Idaho’s law, abortion is prohibited except to save the life of the pregnant patient. The court’s order preserves the status quo while litigation continues, allowing hospitals to provide stabilizing treatment required under EMTALA — including the termination of pregnancy when necessary to prevent serious harm — without facing state criminal penalties.
In March 2024, America’s Essential Hospitals, the American Hospital Association, and the Association of American Medical Colleges filed an amicus brief in Idaho v. U.S. and Moyle v. U.S. emphasizing the risks of restricting emergency physicians’ ability to exercise their medical judgment. The brief highlighted the dangers of legal penalties for providing stabilizing care, which could delay treatment and endanger patient health. The associations filed a similar brief in the suit brought by St. Luke’s Health System in January 2025.
The injunction remains in effect while the court considers the case.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
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