Unfortunately the HHS Secretary isn’t empowered to create law, nor are they empowered to interpret law. They can only share opinions, provide guidance, create policy, etc. So no, in this case, you are not quite right.

Further, as the other user pointed out: the hospital would rather be sued by the individual for violating their rights than by the state for violating the law. Regardless of potential precedent or final outcome, one is far, FAR more costly than the other.

As they say, when the punishment is less than the profit, it’s not a punishment, it’s a business expense

Ultimately, laws can only be judged on their ability to create outcomes. This one has failed miserably

I’ve already quoted from that exact link.

From link you were talking about:

“At the time of the discussion, Farmer was medically stable, with some vaginal bleeding that was not heavy. “Therefore contrary to the most appropriate management based (sic) my medical opinion, due to the legal language of MO law, we are unable to offer induction of labor at this time,” the report quotes the specialist as saying.”

Again, she was stable at the time. The law required that they not perform an abortion.

A political official saying something is not the law. Filling a lawsuit is not the law.