The Trump administration sowed confusion and fear among physicians with its move this past week to rescind Biden-era guidelines to hospitals that provide life-saving abortions.

While the move doesn't change the law, doctors and reproductive-rights advocates fear it will have a chilling effect on health care workers in states with abortion bans, ultimately harming pregnant women.

Earlier this past week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced they would rescind guidance issued during the Biden administration, which reinforced to hospitals that under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA,) abortions qualify as stabilizing care in medical emergencies.

Emergency rooms in states with abortion bans have been struggling since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade to understand when they can legally provide emergency abortions.

After President Trump pulled the Biden-era guidance seeking to clarify that question, emergency room doctors will experience “more confusion” and “more fear,” according to health and legal experts who spoke with The Hill.

“Clinicians are scared to provide basic medical care, and this care is clearly in line with medical ethics ... medical standards of care, and they're being put in this situation where they can't win,” said Payal Shah, director of research, legal and advocacy at........

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