Justice Ginsburg Hospitalized for Fever, Released After Treatment
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has returned home after being hospitalized over the weekend for chills and fever, court officials confirmed Sunday.
The 86-year-old justice was initially taken to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington on Friday night before being transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for more comprehensive evaluation and treatment of a possible infection, according to a statement from the Supreme Court.
“She is home and doing well,” spokesperson Kathy Arberg confirmed in a statement released Sunday, following the justice’s brief hospital stay.
Quick Recovery
Medical staff treated Ginsburg with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, which apparently worked quickly. Her symptoms “abated” following treatment, and doctors determined she could be released “as early as Sunday morning,” according to the court’s statement.
The hospitalization marks yet another health challenge for the liberal icon, who has become known almost as much for her resilience as for her groundbreaking legal career. Ginsburg was admitted Friday after experiencing what the court described as “chills and fever earlier in the day.”
Health scares for the court’s oldest justice inevitably raise concerns among her supporters. Why? Any vacancy on the high court during an election year would likely trigger an intense political battle over her replacement.
History of Health Challenges
This isn’t Ginsburg’s first bout with serious health issues. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2019, adding to a medical history that includes previous cancer treatments and other hospitalizations.
In fact, the justice has faced similar symptoms before. She was previously hospitalized for fever and chills in November 2019, and has since received treatment for gallbladder complications in May 2020 and an unidentified infection in July.
Despite these challenges, Ginsburg has maintained her active role on the court, rarely missing oral arguments even during periods of treatment. Court watchers have noted her determination to continue serving despite recurring health issues.
The justice’s quick release from the hospital suggests this latest incident may not significantly impact her work on the court, which is currently in the midst of its 2019-2020 term handling several high-profile cases.
For now, at least, the “Notorious RBG” — as her younger fans have dubbed her — appears to have overcome yet another health challenge in her remarkable tenure on the nation’s highest court.
