One of the Nation’s Largest Catholic Hospital Systems Says It Can Deny Women Emergency Care

[KamaAina]

Because of Its Religious Affiliation

https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/one-nations-largest-catholic-hospital-systems-says-it-can-deny-women-emergency

I suppose it shouldn’t really have come as a surprise. But there it was in black and white in a recent court document: Trinity Health, one of the largest health care systems, saying that because of religious exemption laws, its Catholic affiliation allows it to violate the law and refuse to provide pregnant women with emergency medical care.

In response to a lawsuit we filed against Trinity for systematically refusing to treat pregnant women in emergencies, the hospital giant recently submitted a brief that argues (incorrectly) that state and federal law allow Trinity to “refuse to allow abortions to be performed on hospital premises,” in the context of emergency miscarriage treatment when the woman’s life or health is at risk....

But it’s also completely consistent with everything else we know about Catholic hospitals. We know, for example, that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which sets the rules for all Catholic hospitals, has said that its hospitals should let a woman die rather provide an emergency abortion. The bishops made their policy crystal-clear when a Catholic hospital in Phoenix defied the bishops’ rules and saved a woman’s life by providing an abortion. The bishops excommunicated a nun who was on the committee that approved the abortion, and the hospital was stripped of its Catholic status.

We also know that there have been countless women that have rushed to Catholic hospitals when something started to go horribly awry with their pregnancies, only to be turned away, allowed to deteriorate, or worse. Tamesha Means was one of those women. She was in the 18th week of pregnancy, happily awaiting the birth of her child, when her water broke. She rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately because of the bishops’ rules, the hospital didn’t tell Tamesha that the pregnancy was doomed and that the safest course was an abortion. The hospital sent her home — not once, but twice — while she was in excruciating pain and developing an infection. Only once she began to deliver during her third visit did the hospital start providing care.

[hobbit709]

1. Then they need to have their operating license yanked.

[misterhighwasted]

2. Tax them. nt

*

[glinda]

3. Remove all public funding venues including tax privileges. Charge them with

violating the first Law of medical care which is do no harm. Charge them with abuse and negligence. Close them down.

[benld74]

4. Back in '95 we miscarried our 2nd child,,,

but the wife works in the health field and knew her doctor worked in a Catholic hospital.

She knew they would not provide the needed D&C.

We went to another hospital to have the procedure done. I didn't realize at the time and was surprised.

[yardwork]

5. We can stop providing Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement to them.

[Humanist_Activist]

6. The Church is unfit to run health care providers, they let their ideology get in the way of...

medical care, that is unacceptable.

They need to be regulated, and if they can't take the regulation, then they need to quit the health care system and let others take over.

[bklyncowgirl]

7. There's a big difference between voluntary abortion and emergency care for a doomed pregnancy

I can understand Catholic hospitals refusal to provide abortions. I cannot understand or support their refusal to intervene in a doomed pregnancy that threatens the life or health of the mother.

If they do not follow standard medical procedure they should have their licenses yanked or face large fines. This is not religious freedom.

[restorefreedom]

9. +100 nt

[smirkymonkey]

13. Exactly!

It should also be allowable to sue for damages. This makes me so angry!

[Bluenorthwest]

8. But Francis and climate change!!! Where ARE all the 'pro choice' Francis fans when these stories

come out?

[Solly Mack]

10. K&R

Fuckers.

[dembotoz]

11. they better start wearing kevlar

i actually went thru this some 30 years ago.
quite pregnant wife develops quite aggressive form of leukemia...
you have not experienced panic until your obgyn introduces you to your new oncologist.
Pregnancy had to end one way or another...she was dropping like a rock.
after a bunch of testing it was determined that the fetus has developed enuf.
a c section produced my son and chemo could begin....

i know my emotional state at the time
had i received bullshit instead of help i would have sought revenge.

this is not to be considered a threat. it is an accurate description of my emotional state at the time in full protect my wife mode.

[lpbk2713]

12. What is it they don't quite grasp about the word "emergency"?

"Sorry honey, we can't take you. Can I call you a cab?"

[ryan_cats]

14. How

How is that possible?

They deny care and it costs the lives of the mom and baby and this is OK? They sleep well, at night?

[CharlotteVale]

15. As a woman, I say fuck the dangerous Catholic church

And all of its apologists.

[ananda]

16. Seton is pretty bad too ..

.. here in Austin.