Lawsuit Challenges Anti-Abortion Policies at Catholic Hospitals Research Paper

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Lawsuit Challenges Anti-Abortion Policies at Catholic Hospitals" brings to attention the recent case of the American Civil Liberties Union filling suit against the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has attracted attention for its unusual approach. Based on the way the medical stuff at Mercy Health Hospital from Muskegon, Michigan, dealt with a medical case involving a pregnant woman in her eighteenth pregnancy week, the organization decided to go to the roots of such decision and attack this in court.

The facts, as the article presents them, appear simple: Tamesha Means went to the only hospital she had in her country. She was 18-month pregnant and her water broke, which, in less medical terms, meant that her baby had absolutely no chance of surviving, but she would, under proper medical treatment. However, because the hospital was benefiting from Catholic funding and had to abide by Catholic directives, this did not happen until her third visit to the hospital, when she was already in serious pain and in danger of a serious infection. She eventually miscarried, the baby died, as was the prognosis, and she survived, with subsequent care.

Upon first reading the article, with a reasonable mind, one needs to agree that this all sounds medieval. A burning pyre appears the only thing missing from a scenario where the Catholic Church is allowed to dictate over who lives and who dies and where the Catholic Church is allowed to implement its "Directives" in an Inquisitorial manner. It appears basic in 21st century medicine that saving lives is the primordial aspect that guides the medical crews.

Of course, saving lives tacitly means saving as many lives as possible: in this particular situation, the optimum scenario is to save both mother and baby, but we live in a world where we are no longer governed by senseless predictions, but in a world where we can occasionally rely on scientific facts to guide our decisions.

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In this particular case, the scientific facts showed that, 100%, the baby would not survive, under any conditions. At 18 weeks, with all advances that medicine made over time, it is just not possible.

Apparently, all this logic does not work at Mercy Health hospital. This hospital is Catholic-sponsored, which is actually a wonderful thing. Catholic sponsorship allows the hospital to cover operational costs and even to provide free healthcare to some of the patients who cannot afford to pay for it. In general, a reasonable mind will look at the Catholic Church as one of the most important sponsor of people and communities in need. Its involvement has always been appreciated, be it in educational or social efforts, in community service or in individual involvement.

At Mercy Health hospital, however, Catholic sponsorship comes at a cost. The cost is the absolute and complete adherence to the ethical and religious directives that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops puts in place. This is where the medieval and capitalism come together. Because in capitalism, once you receive money from someone or from an organization, you are going to start playing by that someone's rules, no matter how absurd they may be.

What do these directives mention? They specifically state that "Abortion ... is never permitted. Every procedure whose sole immediate effect is the termination of pregnancy before viability is an abortion." One needs to look close at this statement, to notice not only how inclusive it is, but how it literally leaves absolutely no way around it. One can understand the need to care for any life, including unborn life. One does not need to be a staunch conservative to support an anti-abortion policy, but letting the mother die solely to be able to save a fetus who is 100% likely to….....

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"Lawsuit Challenges Anti-Abortion Policies At Catholic Hospitals" (2013, December 03) Retrieved May 1, 2024, from
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"Lawsuit Challenges Anti-Abortion Policies At Catholic Hospitals", 03 December 2013, Accessed.1 May. 2024,
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