Catholic Hospitals Expand, Religious Strings Attached

[cbayer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/health/policy/growth-of-catholic-hospitals-may-limit-access-to-reproductive-care.html


By REED ABELSON
Published: February 20, 2012

As Roman Catholic leaders and government officials clash over the proper role of religion and reproductive health, shifts in health care economics are magnifying the tension. Financially stronger Catholic-sponsored medical centers are increasingly joining with smaller secular hospitals, in some cases limiting access to treatments like contraception, abortion and sterilization.

In Seattle, Swedish Health Services has offered elective abortions for decades. But the hospital agreed to stop when it joined forces this month with Providence Health & Services, one of the nation’s largest Catholic systems.

In late December, Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky turned down a bid by Catholic Health Initiatives, another large system, to merge with a public hospital in Louisville, in part because of concern that some women would have less access to contraceptive services.

And in Rockford, Ill., there is resistance to a plan by OSF HealthCare, run by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, to buy a hospital because of new restrictions that would require women to go elsewhere if they wanted a tubal ligation after a Caesarean section.

more at link

[JohnDrake]

1. Quite a different story

It is definitely a different matter when the situation is thus. A wholly religious organization should not be forced to violate their tenets, but this is different.

[Humanist_Activist]

2. This is outrageous and unacceptable, if Catholic organizations want to offer health care...

they should offer all available treatments and procedures, period, if they have a problem with that, seize their hospitals and let truly compassionate people run them. I'm sick of religious tyranny in health care and elsewhere.

[LiberalEsto]

3. In Montgomery County, Maryland

the county council voted last year to endorse Holy Cross Hospital's proposal to build a hospital in the under-served northwestern part of the country, ignoring the objections of many women who said the Catholic hospital would not provide a wide enough range of reproductive health services to women.

The county council, as well as the Maryland Health Care Commission, rejected a competing proposal by Adventist Healthcare, which already operates two hospitals in the county.

I was absolutely livid about this.

"Opponents were concerned that the hospital would not perform many reproductive health services – especially those dealing with contraception. While the hospital would treat patients with AIDS, they may not counsel them to use condoms. If a woman came in reporting a rape, she may not be given emergency contraception." from an article in Maryland Reporter. Link:

http://marylandreporter.com/2011/06/16/controversy-over-religion-location-for-planned-new-montgomery-county-hospital/

[cbayer]

5. This has been a longstanding problem in the New Orleans area.

The "Charity" hospital system was started by catholic nuns and have always had huge gaps in their provision of reproductive services.

In addition, the largest community hospitals, which are in areas with catholic majorities, have also restricted some reproductive services, including abortions.

The options for poor or even middle class, uninsured women are very, very slim.

[Dawson Leery]

4. Stay out of Catholic Hospitals if you want legitimate healthcare.

[rug]

6. The net result of this will be hospitals no longer run by Catholic organizations.

As it is, there are very few of the original orders involved in the hospitals they founded.

More to the point, there is a decisive barrier between Catholic teaching on sexual morality and the delivery of medical care.

Either the Church will adapt its teaching on sexual morality or it will get out of running hospitals.

If it alters its teaching, its moral authority will be undermined in a way much more significant than the sex abuse cases. It's easier to blame things on individual perverts than to explain how a Church can change its bedrock teachings to accommodate a secular demand.

I don't see it doing that. So I expect a wave of new entities taking over the hospitals which, IIRC, currently treat about one of 6 hospital patients. That will be a big shift in the health care industry.

[cbayer]

7. That would be good, but aren't these significant revenue producing centers?

[rug]

12. As far as I know they're all non profits.

Like any hospital, they generate huge revenues along with huge expenses. That's why their character is more of a business than a charity, religious or otherwise. The Church will have to recognize that.

In addition to losing their religious character, many of them are going underwater. The biggest one I heard of recently was the St. Vincent's Hospital health system in NYC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Vincent%27s_Catholic_Medical_Center

The starkest memory I have of that hospital is the line of gurneys waiting to receive casualities from the WTC. None came.

[Humanist_Activist]

10. The Catholic Church has no moral authority to undermine...

But I welcome them to get out of running hospitals, then more ethical organizations can take over.

[cleanhippie]

8. "...clash over the proper role of religion and reproductive health" - The proper role is to BUTT OUT

THIS is the problem. Religion trying to tell others how to live.

[Angry Dragon]

9. Their religion does not transfer over to health care

I am getting tired of this shit

edit:
They took an oath ------ Do no harm
if they can not live up to that oath then don't go into medicine

[darkstar3]

11. Sickening. When will these assholes learn that pushing their religious dogma on others is

antithetical to the religious freedom this country is supposed to enjoy?