Abortion ban linked to dangerous miscarriages at Catholic hospital, report claims

[trotsky]

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/18/michigan-catholic-hospital-women-miscarriage-abortion-mercy-health-partners

The woman inside the ambulance was miscarrying. That was clear from the foul-smelling fluid leaving her body. As the vehicle wailed toward the hospital, a doctor waiting for her arrival phoned a specialist, who was unequivocal: the baby would die. The woman might follow. Induce labor immediately.

But staff at the Mercy Health Partners hospital in Muskegon, Michigan would not induce labor for another 10 hours. Instead, they followed a set of directives written by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that forbid terminating a pregnancy unless the mother is in grave condition. Doctors decided they would delay until the woman showed signs of sepsis – a life-threatening response to an advanced infection – or the fetal heart stopped on its own.

In the end, it was sepsis. When the woman delivered, at 1.41am, doctors had been watching her temperature climb for more than eight hours. Her infant lived for 65 minutes.

This story is just one example of how a single Catholic hospital risked the health of five different women in a span of 17 months, according to a new report leaked to the Guardian.

Sadly, I have seen some DUers respond to a situation like this with "She should have chosen a different hospital."

[Wounded Bear]

1. I'm going to give a very sad "D'uh" to this one...

Everyone knew this would start happening when we started the draconian restrictions on abortion.

This is blood on every forced birthers' hands. Not to mention the free market health care assholes.

[hollysmom]

4. seriously, it is catholic for profit hospitals are buying up hospitals all over this country.

The Growth of Catholic Hospitals, By the Numbers

The past few years have been a period of unprecedented turmoil for the hospital industry. Now, a new report confirms that Catholic hospitals are emerging as one of the few clear winners — and the study adds its voice to a growing chorus of warnings about how church doctrine could affect women’s reproductive health care.

The report is by MergerWatch, a New York–based nonprofit that tracks hospital consolidations, and the American Civil Liberties Union. It traces the growth of Catholic hospitals across the U.S. from 2001 to 2011, the most recent year for which complete data is available. It focuses on full-service, acute-care hospitals with emergency rooms and maternity units —settings in which Catholic religious teachings are most likely to come into conflict with otherwise accepted standards of reproductive care.

[Wounded Bear]

5. I live in Washington State...

that has been an issue here for several years. There has been some serious push back, but they are gobbling up hospitals all over the state.

[hamsterjill]

7. +1000

n/t

[hollysmom]

2. Catholic hospitals are the only choice in some area and you also do not

have a choice because some ambulance choose where to take you over your objections. there was a hospital near my Mother's place where they were taking her when she had a stroke, it was a horrible place and had the highest death rate in the area (I had checked when they abused my father when he was a patient, don't ask, too long), the ambulance refused to take my mother anywhere else, so I drove her myself to the best hospital in the area, in another county.

This is exactly how that woman died in Ireland a few years ago.

[trotsky]

3. "This is exactly how that woman died in Ireland a few years ago."

Yup, you got it. So damn scary.

[joeybee12]

6. All that just so the baby could live for 65 minutes...

That in itself is cruel.

[Orrex]

8. If only some head of the religion were to issue some helpful statement about this stupid ban

Instead of, you know, making bold statements about matters that he can't influence.

Isn't it lovely to hear the pontiff pontificate on climate change, economic inequality the evils of capitalism and other issues that he has no power to change? Funny that he has nothing at all to say about barbaric practices that have oppressed women for centuries.

[GeorgeGist]

9. +1

[Solly Mack]

10. K&R

This story is just one example of how a single Catholic hospital risked the health lives of five different women in a span of 17 months