Prohibited Hospital Interference with Patient Care

Published on May 23rd, 2023

Memorandum of Opposition

Re: A5297 Paulin / S6616 May
Relates to prohibited hospital interference with patient care

The above-referenced legislation would purportedly prohibit hospital interference with patient care where the practitioner is acting in good faith and within their scope of practice. The bill is a clear violation of the rights of Catholic hospitals, and yet another attempt to disrupt the exceptional services that they provide.

The language of the bill is exceptionally broad and could serve as a way to mandate that all hospitals permit abortion on demand for any reason. It fails to provide any conscience protections for procedures. By authorizing private rights of action for violations under this legislation, it is effectively giving pro-abortion advocates to harass Catholic hospitals. Like several bills before, that’s probably the point.

Catholic Hospitals provide exceptional and compassionate care to all. A state that permits abortion on demand, and funds it to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, should not need to harass these hospitals in order to achieve their goals of abortion expansion. We urge you to reject this legislation.