Should Catholic Hospitals be compelled to provide the "morning after pill"?

[froglady]

So my question is would a Catholic hospital allow her to persue a treatment that would "probably" save her life and undoubtably cause fetal demise?

As I mentioned before, 45% of Catholic hospitals DO allow the MAP to rape victims, so apparently some hospitals are able to go against "official" doctrine.

The question is, should they be FORCED to by law?

In your friend's case, although time is of the essence, it's not as crucial as the 72 hour window for the MAP, so she does/did have the option to go elsewhere.

I knew someone who had this exact situation (Perhaps the same person?) who opted to stay pregnant, and had a "reduced" course of chemo that would be less harmful to the fetus, but not as effective. Her child was born with profound medical problems, but survived, as did she, as she went through a more agressive course after she delivered. The hospital was also WILLING to offer her a more intensive therapy.

Her attitude was that I MIGHT die, the treatment MIGHT kill my baby, but an abortion would DEFINITELY kill my baby. She chose to put the decision in a higher power's hands.

 

[BuckNaked]

Maybe not for you, but there are certainly enough in favor to call it a compelling interest.

I'm not sure that I would consider the DIS population to be the arbiters of what is or isn't a compelling state interest. We have plenty of judges that can do that, that's what they're there for.

When they pass a law that affects their religion I agree it will be a problem.

When the state tells a religious institution that they must violate tenets of their faith, the law is affecting their religion. [/QUOTE]

And providing MAP to a RAPE victims is not about convienence

So long as the drug is available elsewhere, it's all about convenience. As far as I know, Catholic hospitals aren't imprisoning rape victims and preventing them from going elsewhere for the pills. They can leave and go somewhere that dispensing it wouldn't be a religious issue.

It is much safer and and better to prevent a pregnancy in the case of a VIOLENT ATTACK, the to have an abortion or a birth. Especailly if the RAPE victim has suffered other injuries from the ATTACK

Then let them go elsewhere.

 

[yeartolate]

I knew someone who had this exact situation (Perhaps the same person?) who opted to stay pregnant, and had a "reduced" course of chemo that would be less harmful to the fetus, but not as effective. Her child was born with profound medical problems, but survived, as did she, as she went through a more agressive course after she delivered. The hospital was also WILLING to offer her a more intensive therapy.

Luckily she chose not to go for the "reduced" course. She had a very aggressive for of breast cancer (as is the case with many women who get breast cancer early in life). The reduced course would have been a death sentence.

I am curious, what type of profound medical problems did the baby have, were they treatable?

 

[froglady]

Luckily she chose not to go for the "reduced" course. She had a very aggressive for of breast cancer (as is the case with many women who get breast cancer early in life). The reduced course would have been a death sentence.

I am curious, what type of profound medical problems did the baby have, were they treatable?

He had surgery for some of the problems, others are untreatable (cognative and paralysis one side...I'm not sure of the etiology, could be developmental, due to birth complications, or due to a stroke) and permanent; his mother is able to provide his care, but when she is unable to, her daughter will have to take over, or he will have to have daily assistance. The mother had a mastectomy and treatment after delivery. I really didn't feel comfortable quizzing her as to the specific etiology of each problem, as I didn't know her THAT well. I knew her because of a class both of our daughters attended, where we would talk on the sidelines. DD outgrew the class over a decade ago, so I have no long term information on the boy, who would be approaching adulthood, if he's still living.

 

[cardaway]

I'm not sure that I would consider the DIS population to be the arbiters of what is or isn't a compelling state interest. We have plenty of judges that can do that, that's what they're there for.

I was thinking more about the people in the area that made this a topic in the first place.

When the state tells a religious institution that they must violate tenets of their faith, the law is affecting their religion.

A licensed, for profit, Catholic hospital is no more a religious institution than my company is.

 

[sodaseller]

I was thinking more about the people in the area that made this a topic in the first place.




A licensed, for profit, Catholic hospital is no more a religious institution than my company is.

None of the Catholic Hospitals I know operate for a profit - all are a charism of the particular order that funded and runs the hospital. That said, I think it rather silly to look at this issue through economic lens. Does anyone really think rape victims are an immense profit center and that competing hospitals (which there really is no such thing given the way we license hospitals) will rush to fill this lucrative market void? Do we really want someone that has just been assaulted having to make economic decisions?

 

[cardaway]

None of the Catholic Hospitals I know operate for a profit

So unlike other hospitals they don't charge more than the actual cost for their services?

 

[sodaseller]

So unlike other hospitals they don't charge more than the actual cost for their services?

They operate like other nonprofits - there are no profits returned to shareholders

 

[cardaway]

They operate like other nonprofits - there are no profits returned to shareholders

They operate like every other hospital, with the profits going to the owners.

 

[sodaseller]

They operate like every other hospital, with the profits going to the owners.

Not at all, at least the ones I know. In fact, most full service hospitals are bleeding money heavily. But that is a function of the business model. But most do attempt to make a profit, like HCA. Catholic hospitals do not.

I understand that many are cynical about the Church's mission, but there is far more sincerity than is realized. Opus Dei type Catholics are still a small minority.

Just this evening, I must unfortunately attend a meeting about our parish school possibly closing because the Diocese can no longer subsidize it.

I also think that many of the response supposedly supporting the Church on this thread are nonsenical, callous and misogynistic. But that should not translate into viewing the very real charitable impulse that animated the founding and continued operation of these hospitals as a pretext - that's not te case. The individuals that operate those hospitals are far larger in Spirit than what you have witnessed on this thread