Court Refuses To Require Catholic Hospital To Perform Tubal Ligation

In Chamorro v. Dignity Health, (CA Super., Jan. 14, 2016), a California trial court refused to issue a preliminary injunction to require a Catholic hospital to perform a tubal ligation for contraceptive purposes.  The hospital refuses to perform the procedure pursuant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.  Plaintiff had contended that this violates California's prohibition on gender discrimination, but the court concluded that the hospital's policy bars direct sterilization of men as well as of women. AP reports on the decision.