A Big Win for Women Who Seek Care at Catholic Hospitals in Illinois
In Tamesha’s home state of Michigan just last week, legislators introduced a bill that would help ensure that women receive information about their health condition and that no woman is turned away from a hospital when her life or health is in jeopardy. If passed, the bill would prevent other women from experiencing what Tamesha went through. The bill is similar to one in Washington State that prohibits hospitals from tying a doctor’s hands and preventing the doctor from providing medically accurate and appropriate information, referrals, or services to patients.
As the ACLU of Illinois’ Reproductive Rights Project Director Lorie Chaiten said, “If signed into law, Senate Bill 1564 will mean that each patient in Illinois now can be assured that they will have complete information, so that they can make the best medical decision for themselves and their families. These medical decisions, we expect, will be guided by a patient¹s individual condition and his or her personal beliefs. Senate Bill 1564 means that when Illinois patients go into an exam room, they do not need to worry that they are being denied medical information based on their health care provider¹s religious beliefs.”
Or to put it simply, these bills make clear that freedom of religion doesn’t allow anyone to put women and others in harm’s way.
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