Michigan-based Trinity Health Corporation, one of US' largest Catholic health system, is now facing lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union after refusing to administer emergency abortion to women who experienced incomplete miscarriage.
According to usatoday.com, the federal lawsuit was filed last Thursday and the case stated that Trinity Health Corporation refused to administer the needed abortion to at least five women in one of the hospital under their operation. The corporation has a total of 88 hospital throughout the country.
The five women involved in the case have experienced "preterm, premature rupture of membranes, a condition in which the amniotic sac breaks and leaves no fluid around the fetus."
Sarah Prager, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington, said "When this happens early in a pregnancy, it virtually always results in fetal death." She also added "This is a situation where there is virtually no chance that the fetus will survive. The miscarriage has started. It just hasn't completed."
When a woman experienced this, the pregnancy must be terminated to avoid any serious effects on the mother's health such as bleeding and serious infection. Prager added, "If you delay action until there is no longer a fetal heartbeat, that can often put the mother's life at risk or risk her future fertility."
According to buzzfeed.com, Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, a staff attorney at the ACLU, said "We have heard reports growing over the years of how the Ethical and Religious Directives are affecting women who present in emergency rooms at these hospitals with pregnancy complications or miscarriage. When a woman's health is at stake, it's doctors - not religious leaders - who should be calling the shots."
However, Trinity Health stands by its decision and said that "the case has no merit." They also added "The Ethical and Religious Directives are entirely consistent with high-quality health care, and our clinicians continue to provide superb care throughout the communities we serve."
What do you think about Trinity Health Corporation's decision of refusing to perform emergency abortion? Share it in the comments!
