Miguel Ausejo / Unsplash
CV NEWS FEED // A Catholic hospital in Eureka, California, is facing renewed legal scrutiny after a woman filed a lawsuit claiming that staff members denied her an “emergency abortion” while she was experiencing a life-threatening miscarriage.
Anna Nusslock filed the complaint this week against Providence St. Joseph Hospital, saying she sought emergency care in February 2023 after her water broke just 15 weeks into her pregnancy with twins, Jefferson Public Radio reported.
The case has already drawn state-level attention. California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit in October against Providence St. Joseph, alleging that the hospital violated state law by failing to provide emergency care for Nusslock.
According to the new lawsuit, doctors diagnosed Nusslock with previable preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), a serious condition that left her at risk of hemorrhage or infection. Physicians reportedly told her the babies would not survive and recommended an abortion to mitigate her health risks.
However, because one twin still had a detectable heartbeat, the Catholic-affiliated hospital declined to perform the procedure, CatholicVote previously reported.
“She was terrified, in fear for her life, that she was going to bleed to death,” said K.M. Bell of the National Women’s Law Center, which is representing Nusslock, according to Jefferson Public Radio. Bell said that Nusslock has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the ordeal.
Hospital staff, according to the complaint, gave Nusslock a bucket and towels and directed her to nearby Mad River Community Hospital. There, she began to hemorrhage and ultimately received the abortion.
Nusslock’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages and a change in Providence St. Joseph’s policies. Her legal team claims the hospital violated California’s Emergency Medical Services Law and the state’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, arguing that it discriminated against her because of her pregnancy.t
In a public statement, the hospital defended its policies: “As a Catholic health care organization, we are transparent that we do not perform elective abortions. However, in emergencies, our care teams provide medically necessary interventions to protect pregnant patients who are miscarrying or facing serious life-threatening conditions.”
The hospital added that staff do provide life-saving care, even when such interventions may result in indirect fetal death, and that this aligns with California Emergency Services Law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, and the Catholic Ethical and Religious Directives.
“The experience described in this lawsuit is deeply saddening and troubling,” the hospital’s statement reads. “We are fully committed to delivering care in accordance with federal and state law, as well as our mission as a faith-based organization.”
The hospital explained that they have recently enhanced their training, education, and escalation procedures to further uphold the highest standard of care.
“We take our responsibility as a vital safety net incredibly seriously,” the statement continued, “and are committed to continuing to meet the needs of our community, just as we have for more than a century.”
