United States: The health providers in Florida informed medical practitioners on Thursday via letter that abortion is legal in the state “at any stage in pregnancy” for a medical emergency involving the life and health of the mother and that regulators will act against any physicians who do not allow the procedure.
More about the news
According to the report from the Florida Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Florida “requires life-saving medical care to a mother without delay when necessary.”
Moreover, the agencies also mentioned that the health providers offering life-saving treatments for pregnant women “does not violate Florida law and that failure to do so may constitute malpractice.”
They also mentioned that the alert was issued “to address misinformation currently being spread concerning Florida’s abortion laws.”
“Providers are reminded that Florida requires life-saving medical care to a mother without delay when necessary, and the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Health will take regulatory action when a provider fails to follow this standard of care,” the agencies added, the Hill reported.
About Florida ban
Florida prohibits any abortions after fetal cardiac activity is identified, which is at a period of six weeks. A person who performs the abortion faces a third-degree felony and could serve up to five years in prison, pay USD 5,000, and lose his/her license.
According to the notice published after a report from Physicians for Human Rights, the ban created an “unworkable legal landscape.”
The ban has some exemptions whereby the intended abortion may take place up to 15 weeks in cases of rape, incest, and human trafficking.
As the health agencies have pointed out, the exclusions permit treating an ectopic, a molar, or a premature rupture of membranes pregnancy as well as abortions, the Hill reported.
However, it allows physicians to terminate a pregnancy if necessary to save the life of the mother or prevent “a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment.”
What do health agencies say?
Doctors report that recent state laws on abortion are too vague, and they are not shielded in case they have to have an abortion.
Hence, as per the health agencies, in exceptional cases, it allows treatment in dire medical situations for women, for women who experience premature rupture of membranes or ectopic or molar pregnancies.