Saying that the Affordable Care Act's ( ACA's ) mandate requiring people to buy health insurance is unconstitutional and the rest of the law cannot stand without it, Judge Reed O'Connor of the Federal District Court in Fort Worth, Texas, struck down struck down the entire act ( also known as Obamacare ) Dec. 14.
However, the American Medical Association ( AMA ) was among those who criticized O'Connor's ruling in Texas v. Azar.
In a statement sent to media, the AMA said, in part, "Judge Reed O'Connor's decision is a stunning display of judicial activism. Judicial power does not extend to settling policy disputes or exercising general supervision over the other branches of the federal government."
The statement added that the ruling would "wreak havoc on American healthcare if it were left to stand," adding, "The decision reverses the historic gains in health insurance coverage that have been achieved since the implementation of the ACA, which have benefited millions of patients and the American health system."
The AMA also said the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the case ( because they have suffered no real injury ); that the minimum essential coverage provision remains a constitutional exercise of the U.S. Congress; and that The minimum-coverage provision is severable from the rest of the ACA.
A spokeswoman for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said California and the other defendant states would challenge the ruling with an appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, The New York Times reported. See NYTimes.com/2018/12/14/health/obamacare-unconstitutional-texas-judge.html .