St. Joseph hospital seeks dismissal of abortion lawsuit, cites religious freedom
Summary
Providence St. Joseph Hospital is contesting a lawsuit by the California Attorney General, which claims the hospital denied necessary abortion services, violating state law. The hospital argues its religious beliefs, protected under the First Amendment, justify its actions. The lawsuit centers on an incident where a woman was denied an abortion despite medical advice, leading to severe health risks. The hospital maintains that its Catholic identity and adherence to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services dictate its healthcare practices, even when they involve denying abortions that medical professionals deem necessary for patient health.
Relevance
This is a follow up on a significant story that has been building over the past couple of months. The hospital is appearing to stand by its original stance which led to the lawsuit, affirming its roots in Catholic Identity.