Abortion accessibility in Canada: The Catholic hospital conflict
Summary
The overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States sparked debate about abortion in Canada, including whether Catholic hospitals retain the right to impede access to abortion. The article details the story of a woman who went to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the only hospital in her city, to get an abortion in 2013. The now mother-of-two said she was referred to another hospital in Regina, which is 200 kilometres away and an approximate two-hour drive.
Relevance
This piece highlights the conflict Catholic hospitals in Canada have when it comes to providing abortion and was written amid R v. Wade being overturned in the United States. The fact that Catholic hospitals are part of the universal healthcare system and paid for by tax dollars- a fact heavily emphasized in the article, is a key tenant in the debates around faith-based hospitals abstaining from secular medicinal practices.