Hospital in Redding denies 2 more women tubal ligation [View all]
A Northern California Catholic hospital that refused to let a woman’s doctor sterilize her after childbirth, then changed course after being threatened with a sex-discrimination lawsuit, has denied tubal ligations to two more pregnant women, citing religious principles.
Mercy Medical Center in Redding, owned by Dignity Health of San Francisco, is again facing a possible lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the two women, joined this time by a nationwide group, Physicians for Reproductive Health.
“California law ... does not permit hospitals open to the general public and supported by public funds to deny patients medically indicated pregnancy-related care,” lawyers for the women and the doctors’ group said Dec, 2 in a letter to the hospital and its owner. “Nor does it permit corporate entities to elevate their theological tenets over patient health.”
In response, the hospital issued a statement saying that “in general, it is our practice not to provide sterilization services at Dignity Health’s Catholic facilities” because of the “ethical and religious directives” that govern Catholic hospitals.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Hospital-in-Redding-denies-2-more-women-tubal-6680121.php
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