ACLU sues Dignity Health over hospital's refusal to perform tubal ligation

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against San Francisco-based Dignity Health, alleging the Catholic health system is unlawfully denying women's rights to contraception, according to The Sacramento Bee.

The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Physicians for Reproductive Health and a woman whose request for a tubal ligation was denied by Mercy Medical Center in Redding, Calif., a Dignity hospital.

Van Kirk, MD, a member of Physicians for Reproductive Health, claims 50 of his patients have been denied permission for postpartum tubal ligations at Mercy Medical Center in the past eight years due to the hospital's allegiance to Catholic doctrine, according to the report.

Although Dignity declined to discuss pending litigation, the health system told the Bee its general practice is not to provide sterilization services at its Catholic facilities.

More articles on healthcare industry lawsuits:

Shuttered Dallas hospital hit with lawsuit over unpaid wages
Ohio cardiologist blames ACA for his 20-year Medicare fraud sentence
Aria Health to pay $3M to settle False Claims Act, Stark Law matters

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars