Author looks at how Catholic Hospitals treat reproductive care
Catholic healthcare has increased amid the growth of nonprofits within that sector generally
I had the opportunity to read Bishops and Bodies: Reproductive Care in American Catholic Hospitals, which Lori Freedman wrote and published last summer.
It was an intriguing look at how Catholic hospitals have not met some aspects of their medical duties in providing necessary and desired reproductive care due to some of the theological viewpoints of the church hierarchy. As nonprofit Catholic care has increasingly grown amid consolidation, it’s important to note who is affected and how.
Many of the women who use the facilities are not Catholic and enter their care without understanding the limitations placed on the range of services as a result of the Vatican’s opposition to abortion and conservatism on other sexual issues.
I spoke to Freedman about her work. She said Catholic hospitals don’t allow sterilization after birth, which is the safest time to do it. The organization also doesn’t allow abortions in necessary medical situations.
“It's a frustrating policy issue because national and federal laws have been really favoring the rights of religious entities over the individual who is subject to them,” Freedman said. “So it feels like not a very simple assignment for federal policy change.”
A variety of states have passed laws increasing oversight of healthcare mergers. Part of that includes determining whether the facility will provide reproductive care to women who need it.
As for the ignorance of Catholic policies, many of the women who come into those facilities are not practicing the faith and may come from Black communities, which are, by and large, Protestant.
“Patients don't choose health care for its religion,” Freedman said. “Typically they usually choose it or go to a Catholic hospital because it's nearby or their insurance covers it. One thing they don't really know about is their religious beliefs.”
It’s important to note that while the Catholic hierarchy has taken an official position that is antiabortion, the majority of the laity is pro-choice. I’ve even spoken to a nun who supported abortion access for safety reasons. So, even among lower-level clergy, nuanced views diverge from the Vatican’s stance.
Within a hospital setting, doctors have sought to circumvent some of these policies by using their admitting privileges at nearby hospitals to ensure that the women get the care they need. In blue states, they can refer patients to hospitals that provide those services.
“Sometimes they'll sort of make the case that the patient is sick,” Freedman said. “Sometimes they’ll stretch the truth a tiny bit about how sick she is and try to get an exception from the authorities if possible.”
Freedman’s book is available on Amazon.