Persuasive Speaking Abby Surprenant—2nd Place

Summary

The video discusses the troubling issue of Catholic hospitals denying life-saving care to women due to religious directives. It highlights cases where pregnant women, in need of urgent medical intervention, were refused treatment, resulting in life-threatening consequences. Despite federal laws requiring emergency care, Catholic hospitals often prioritize religious rules over patient health, sometimes hiding their affiliation and banned services from patients. The video calls for policy reforms, including transparency in hospital services and stricter enforcement of federal law to ensure women's safety in emergencies.

Takeaways

• 😟 Tamisha Means was denied appropriate care multiple times during her pregnancy, ultimately leading to a stillbirth and her nearly dying from infection.
• 🏥 Mercy Health Hospital, along with many other Catholic hospitals, follows religious directives that restrict certain medical procedures deemed 'intrinsically evil' by the Catholic Church, regardless of patient risk.
• ⚖️ Federal law mandates that hospitals must provide emergency medical services when life is at risk, but Catholic hospitals routinely deny miscarriage management, putting patients in danger.
• 😔 Many women are unaware that they are at Catholic hospitals, which often hide their affiliation, leading to confusion and delayed care during emergencies.
• 💉 Doctors at Catholic hospitals are forced to follow religious rules that sometimes conflict with their medical judgment, putting women's health at risk.
• ❌ Catholic hospitals are forbidden from referring patients to other facilities or writing referrals for procedures they cannot perform, leaving some women without options for life-saving interventions.
• 💸 Despite receiving billions in federal funding, Catholic hospitals continue to deny necessary medical care, violating both medical ethics and federal law.
• 🚨 There have been cases where women were forced to endure dangerous conditions, such as miscarrying outside hospitals that refused to treat them due to Catholic rules.
• ⛔ ACLU and other organizations have called for legal reforms, such as the Patient's Right to Know Act, to require hospitals to disclose services they cannot provide due to religious restrictions.
• 👩‍⚕️ The story highlights the urgent need for federal enforcement to ensure that religious rules do not override life-saving medical care, especially in emergencies.

Q & A

What happened when Tamisha Means first went to Mercy Health Hospital?

Tamisha Means was 18 weeks pregnant when her water broke. She rushed to Mercy Health Hospital, where doctors reassured her that her baby was fine, gave her Tylenol, and sent her home, despite the baby having died.

How did Mercy Health Hospital handle Tamisha Means' condition when she returned later?

When Tamisha returned nine hours later in severe pain, the hospital sent her home again. Only on her third visit, when she was hemorrhaging, did they deliver her stillborn baby. She nearly died from infection and was placed in the ICU.

Why were the doctors at Mercy Health not held personally negligent for their actions?

The doctors were following hospital rules, which were based on Catholic directives that prohibit medical procedures deemed intrinsically evil by the Catholic faith, including certain emergency miscarriage treatments.

What conflict exists between Catholic hospital rules and federal law?

Catholic hospitals follow religious directives that prohibit certain medical procedures, but federal law, specifically the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), requires hospitals to provide life-saving services in emergencies, regardless of religious beliefs.

How does the lack of transparency affect patients at Catholic hospitals?

Many patients are unaware they are at a Catholic hospital or what that implies for their care. Visible markers like crucifixes are being removed, and hospitals often rename themselves to hide their Catholic affiliation.

What are some of the consequences of Catholic hospitals denying emergency miscarriage management?

Women’s lives are endangered as doctors at Catholic hospitals are forced to deny or delay life-saving interventions. This has led to infections, sepsis, and even death in some cases.

How do Catholic hospitals prioritize care when it comes to miscarriage or pregnancy complications?

Catholic hospitals often prioritize the preservation of the fetus, even if it is no longer viable, over the health of the woman. This can lead to delays in care or outright denial of necessary medical procedures.

What did a report on Catholic hospitals reveal about the experiences of OBGYNs working there?

A report revealed that 33% of OBGYNs at Catholic hospitals experienced severe conflict with the quality of care they could provide, with some unable to even refer patients for necessary medical procedures due to fear of losing their jobs.

What legal action has been taken to address the denial of care at Catholic hospitals?

The Patient’s Right to Know Act, currently being introduced in 28 states, would require Catholic hospitals to inform patients upfront about any services they cannot provide due to religious restrictions.

What are some solutions proposed to address the issues with Catholic hospitals' denial of care?

Proposed solutions include making it clear that federal funding will be pulled from Catholic hospitals that violate the law, passing the Patient’s Right to Know Act, and educating women about the importance of knowing whether their hospital is Catholic before seeking care.