ACLU sues Michigan health system over denying emergency care to pregnant women

The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan have filed a lawsuit accusing a Catholic health system with more than 80 hospitals nationwide of denying appropriate emergency care to women suffering pregnancy complications. The lawsuit states that Trinity Health requires its hospitals to abide by the "Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services," and prohibit Catholic hospitals from terminating the pregnancy of a woman who suffers from a pregnancy complication even if care is needed to protect her health or life. As a result, patients have become septic, experienced hemorrhages and contracted life-threatening infections, the lawsuit claims. Lawsuit (.pdf)