We’re taking a stand today to fight for pregnant women who are denied potentially life-saving care because doctors are forced to follow religious directives rather than best medical practices. Catholic bishops are not licensed medical professionals and have no place dictating how doctors practice medicine, especially when it violates federal law.
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
ACLU Sues Catholic Hospitals Over Denial of Abortions To Treat Serious Medical Complications
In a federal lawsuit filed last week, the ACLU sued a Michigan-based Catholic health care system charging that its hospitals violate federal law by denying appropriate emergency care to women suffering pregnancy complications, including miscarriages. The complaint (full text) in American Civil Liberties Union v. Trinity Health Corporation, (ED MI, filed 10/1/2015), contends that the hospitals, by following the Conference of Bishops' Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services ban on terminating a woman's pregnancy under any conditions, violate the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act as well as the Rehabilitation Act. In a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit, the ACLU said in part:
