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

[trotsky]

(headline cont'd) ...Because of Its Religious Affiliation

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brigitte-amiri/trinity-catholic-hospitals-_b_8592560.html

(Written by Brigitte Amiri, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project)

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.

Scary stuff.

...

As Catholic hospitals proliferate in this country - right now, at least 10 of the 25 largest hospital systems are Catholic-affiliated - it's more and more likely that pregnant women facing emergencies will unwittingly find themselves in a Catholic hospital that will refuse to provide care. Losing a wanted pregnancy is devastating enough as it is. No woman should be worried on top of her loss that she also won't be able to get the medical care she needs because of the religious affiliation of the hospital. Instead, every pregnant woman facing an emergency should be able to go into any hospital with the peace of mind that she will be cared for according to her medical needs, not the hospital's religion. Anything short of that is not only a violation of the law, but it's also downright unethical. And these hospitals accept and are subsidized by public funds (a.k.a. our tax dollars). They need to follow the law and let doctors do their jobs.

We fight every day at the ACLU to make sure women get the care they need and are not discriminated against. Everyone has the right to their religious beliefs, and to worship as they see fit, but Catholic bishops have no right to play doctor or break the law.

[RKP5637]

1. Look at the world over history, what is often at the root of conflict, persecution and destruction?

Religion. The human species really needs to grow up!

[Nay]

2. Now that this ruling has been made, prepare for other fundy groups besides

Catholics to start using their money to buy up hospitals so they, too, can deny birth control and abortions. After all, that's how they have taken over the media, the talk radio segments, retail stores, etc. Pretty soon they'll own everything, and you won't have any rights at all because their rights will trump everyone else's.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. This is why they are acquiring every hospital and BILLING SYSTEM they can get their hands on.