California sues Catholic hospital for refusing to conduct an abortion

Oct 1

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

A legal battle has emerged in California involving a Catholic hospital that allegedly denied a woman an emergency abortion. Anna Nusslock, who was pregnant with twins, had her water break at just 15 weeks.

She sought an emergency abortion, fearing that her life was at risk due to potential infection or hemorrhage. However, hospital staff informed her that hospital policy prohibited the procedure because one of the twins still had a heartbeat and her condition was not deemed an immediate risk to her life.

Nusslock said that hospital staff suggested she drive 12 miles to a community hospital for the procedure, providing her with a bucket and towels for the journey. By the time she arrived at the other hospital, she was actively hemorrhaging, according to Nusslock.

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, asserting that the facility unlawfully denied Nusslock emergency abortion care.

While religiously affiliated hospitals are not required to perform elective abortions, California law mandates that emergency health care providers deliver services when a patient’s life is at risk or they face serious injury.

Bonta said that Nusslock’s case should have qualified for this emergency exception.

The hospital has refrained from extensive comments due to the ongoing litigation but told the Los Angeles Times that it complies with state and federal laws regarding emergency services.

The state is requesting a court order to require the Catholic hospital to provide timely emergency abortions because the community hospital Nusslock initially drove to is closing its labor and delivery unit, leaving Providence St. Joseph as the only facility in the county able to offer emergency abortions, according to the lawsuit.

Tags: Abortion, California, Rob Bonta, Women’s Health

KARAH RUCKER:

A LEGAL BATTLE HAS BEGUN IN CALIFORNIA OVER A CATHOLIC HOSPITAL REFUSING TO GIVE A WOMAN AN ABORTION.

ANNA NUSSLOCK WAS CARRYING TWINS WHEN HER WATER BROKE AT JUST 15 WEEKS PREGNANT.

SHE SAYS SHE NEEDED AN EMERGENCY ABORTION DUE TO RISK OF INFECTION OR HEMORRHAGE WHICH SHE SAYS WAS A DANGER TO HER LIFE.

HOWEVER – SHE SAYS THE STAFF TOLD HER HOSPITAL POLICY PROHIBITED THEM FROM PERFORMING AN ABORTION –

GIVEN ONE OF THE TWIN’S STILL HAD A HEARTBEAT AND HER LIFE WASN’T IMMEDIATELY AT RISK.

Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, alleging the facility unlawfully denied emergency abortion care.

NUSSLOCK SAYS HOSPITAL STAFF SUGGESTED SHE DRIVE 12 MILES TO A COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOR AN ABORTION – AND SAYS SHE WAS GIVEN A BUCKET AND TOWELS FOR THE DRIVE OVER.

BY THE TIME SHE REACHED THE OTHER HOSPITAL – NUSSLOCK SAYS SHE WAS ACTIVELY HEMORRHAGING.

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATED HOSPITALS CANNOT BE FORCED TO PERFORM ELECTIVE ABORTIONS –

BUT CALIFORNIA LAW DOES REQUIRE EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO A PATIENT WHOSE LIFE IS IN DANGER OR IS IN DANGER OF SERIOUS INJURY.

STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA ARGUES – NUSSLOCK’S CASE IS ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE FALLEN UNDER THE EMERGENCY EXCEPTION TO PROVIDE THE ABORTION.

“We’re used to seeing stories of women denied life saving treatment coming out of states that have outlawed abortion. But even here in california, we are not immune from this problem.”

THE HOSPITAL – ISN’T COMMENTING MUCH ON THE MATTER GIVEN THE PENDING LITIGATION –

BUT TOLD THE L-A TIMES THEY PROVIDE EMERGENCY SERVICES TO ALL PATIENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.

CALIFORNIA’S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE HOSPITAL IS ONE OF URGENCE –

WITH THE STATE REQUESTING A COURT ORDER TO FORCE THE CATHOLIC HOSPITAL INTO PERFORMING PROMPT EMERGENCY ABORTIONS –

BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL NUSSLOCK DROVE TO IS CLOSING ITS LABOR AND DELIVERY UNIT.

MEANING PROVIDENCE ST JOSEPH WILL BE THE ONLY HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTY THAT COULD OFFER EMERGENCY ABORTIONS.

WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ANY UPDATES IN THIS CASE.

AND YOU CAN TOO.

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