To answer the question about religious hospitals, one must first look into the Federal mandates for hospitals to be approved by all the departments of health, etc that apply. It must also be defined as exempt as a religious institution, if they are to be permitted to deny medical resources, especially if they are the only hospital available to communities.They also must not be there solely for furthering their religion.
When I was in Chicago, several decades ago, I had an obstetrician who worked at the closest hospital (which happened to be Resurrection Hospital, a Catholic hospital though I am non-Catholic. Having been warned about Catholic belief that the child should be saved if a choice must be made between saving the mother or the unborn fetus. I was assured, that though it was a Catholic hospital, non-Catholics are given their stated choice by their own religion or beliefs.
The current flap has become a political issue. A hospital is not a church, only sponsored by one and must first meet the laws dictated for licensing a hospital. Even if non-profit, if it caters to the public, it must follow all the other rules set for institutions which cater to the public at large. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) was passed in 1986 as part of COBRA, (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) It would be important to acquaint one's self to information before giving the emotional response requested by the far right which is challenging President Obama's insistence that regardless of the sponsor for a hospital, it must follow the Federal Laws. I think it unacceptable for Romney, not yet President and having not considered the whole picture, to have spoken as he did in his 1/20/2012 speech. For details, click here.. Apparently Romney has missed the Constitution saying there should be a separation between church and state. For information on EMTALA and COBRA, click here.
It is not surprising that religious leaders would fight this but it seems that all the laws effecting this unfunded mandate must be explored. I President Obama within Federal Law to demand this respect for some patients' wishes or should the hospitals risk their charters, or should only Catholics who agree to risk their death use them.
When I was in Chicago, several decades ago, I had an obstetrician who worked at the closest hospital (which happened to be Resurrection Hospital, a Catholic hospital though I am non-Catholic. Having been warned about Catholic belief that the child should be saved if a choice must be made between saving the mother or the unborn fetus. I was assured, that though it was a Catholic hospital, non-Catholics are given their stated choice by their own religion or beliefs.
The current flap has become a political issue. A hospital is not a church, only sponsored by one and must first meet the laws dictated for licensing a hospital. Even if non-profit, if it caters to the public, it must follow all the other rules set for institutions which cater to the public at large. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) was passed in 1986 as part of COBRA, (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) It would be important to acquaint one's self to information before giving the emotional response requested by the far right which is challenging President Obama's insistence that regardless of the sponsor for a hospital, it must follow the Federal Laws. I think it unacceptable for Romney, not yet President and having not considered the whole picture, to have spoken as he did in his 1/20/2012 speech. For details, click here.. Apparently Romney has missed the Constitution saying there should be a separation between church and state. For information on EMTALA and COBRA, click here.
It is not surprising that religious leaders would fight this but it seems that all the laws effecting this unfunded mandate must be explored. I President Obama within Federal Law to demand this respect for some patients' wishes or should the hospitals risk their charters, or should only Catholics who agree to risk their death use them.
1 comment:
The catholics should not dictate what decisions are made for medical purposes. We had the catholics move into our hospital. After enough flack, we got rid of the catholics and now women are free to be sterilized after 2 c-sections. Women should be free to make any decision that affects their body, including abortion. Why do the catholics think they are the authority? I am a christian but I believe in individual decisions not an edict by the catholics
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