Since the 1973 supreme court ruling Roe V. Wade, abortion and reproductive rights, on the whole, have become a popular political buzz issue for conservatives. Now, the composition of the Supreme Court appears to be primed for the overturning of the 1973 ruling. States such as Georgia have implemented law after law restricting women’s access to abortion and reproductive care to prompt a challenge to Roe. But, a more subtle attack on reproductive rights has been happening in American for decades. The merging of public hospitals with those of Catholic origins has disrupted women’s right to receiving reproductive care in many states.
Historically, Catholic hospitals have provided medical assistance to the poor and disadvantaged and were largely the basis of the modern healthcare system. To this day, care is guided by a set of principles deemed the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services, which are intended to ensure that medical practices in such facilities are guided by Catholic doctrines. Further, the influence of Catholicism on the healthcare field has steadily grown as, according to the ACLU, 1 in 6 patients in the United States will receive care in a facility that complies with these directives.
In a 2016 study conducted by MergerWatch, it was found that 30 Catholic hospitals were deemed ‘sole community hospitals’ for the areas in which they were situated, indicating that the nearest alternative hospital was at the minimum a 45-minute drive away. In some states such as Alaska, Washington, and Illinois, at least 40% of hospital beds in the state were owned by a Catholic affiliate, and in states such as Kentucky, Arkansas, and Michigan, 30% of hospital beds were provided by a Catholic entity.
The dependency of many communities on such Catholic faith-based institutions is clear; however, from the standpoint of health, it brings about the question of equity in access to reproductive care. If Catholic hospitals are serving such a great number of communities across the United States, but refuse to provide certain services, then many women are being deprived of the opportunity to receive care which is either essential or within their rights to do so. Undoubtedly, these hospitals are providing essential care to patients that otherwise would have to travel long distances to receive medical attention. However, many believe that this dependency is depriving women of their right to reproductive medicine. To quote the ACLU Deputy Legal Director Louise Melling, “We all have a right to our religious beliefs—but that does not include the right to impose those beliefs on others, particularly when that means closing the door on patients seeking medical care.”