Religious Hospital Lack of Care and Macular Good News
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Macula Repair News
Human stem cell transplants successfully repaired macular holes in a monkey model, researchers report October 3rd in the journal Stem Cell Reports. After transplantation, the macular holes were closed by continuous filling of the space with retinal tissue.
Macular holes are small gaps that form in the macula -- the central part of the retina in the eye. They can cause blurred or distorted central vision, making it difficult to read, drive, or see fine details. In the past decade, advances in surgical techniques have achieved closure rates exceeding 90%, but refractory cases are still a problem. Management of recurrent macular holes after surgery is also challenging.
This result suggests that this method could become a practical, safe, and effective treatment option with minimal invasive risks, particularly for difficult macular hole cases. (Science Daily)
Catholic Hospital Dumps Dying Pregnant Patient
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law that ensures that patients with an emergency medical condition receive stabilizing treatment in a hospital emergency department. When a patient presents and is in danger you can’t refuse.
But a Catholic hospital in California did.
When Anna Nusslock showed up at her local hospital 15 weeks pregnant and in severe pain earlier this year and a doctor delivered devastating news: The twins she and her husband had so desperately wanted were not viable. Further, her own health was in danger, and she needed an emergency abortion to prevent hemorrhaging and infection.
Providence St. Joseph Hospital, in the small Northern California coastal city of Eureka, refused to provide the care she required because doctors could detect fetal “heart tones,” Nusslock said at a news conference.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Catholic hospital detailing Nusslock’s dangerous experience and alleging the hospital violated multiple state laws when it discharged Nusslock — with an offer of a bucket and towels — to go elsewhere for what should have been standard medical care. (KFF)
She traveled 12 miles to Mad River Community hospital and they were able to save her life. Just barely. She passed a blood clot the size of an apple and had an infection.
The case illustrates how even in California, where the right to an abortion is enshrined in state law, there’s a glaring loophole. Catholic hospitals, which restrict reproductive health care because they follow the church’s “Ethical and Religious Directives,” are aggressively expanding nationally by acquiring secular hospitals. In swaths of the country, including parts of Northern California, they are the only choice. At the same time, maternity wards are closing rapidly, leaving more patients to contend with religious directives instead of accepted medical standards.
In the face of the lawsuit, the hospital has written a “cover your butt” letter to employees saying that her case did not measure up to their usual standards.
Meanwhile that Mad River hospital 12 miles up the road, said they get at least two pregnant women a year who are denied critical medical care from Providence.
Mad River hospital will be closing and so that will leave an 85 mile drive for anyone who is denied care at this Catholic hospital. That is just dangerous.
Hospitals that violate EMTALA need to know there are consequences. Right now they thumb their noses at the law and say “what will you do, close the hospital?”
Perhaps the threat of no federal funds or the loss of their right to own a medical facility should be on the table since they are happy to deny care to their community.
There will be more on religious hospital stories in coming issues. I am reviewing Catholic Health Associations for Save Secular Healthcare - Washington and have found that this multi million dollar lobbying organization is responsible for some of the IRS regulations that allow hospitals to deceive the public about their charitable work and maintain tax-exempt status making millions of dollars at public expense.
This is a complicated problem but we need to take action at the federal and state levels since these hospitals get public funds and tax exemption from both.
ACTION 1 Federal (MoCs and Senators)
Use RESISTBOT via [Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER] or by texting SIGN PPQIJV to 50409 on your cell phone to send this message to your member of Congress and Senators.
“I am your constituent and I want you to know about another religious hospital that refused to help a woman in a rural area hemorrhaging severely with unviable fetuses. Religious hospitals are supposed to help people and for many they do.They gave her towels and a bucket and sent her away. There are two problems here - the first is that you have not yet passed the Women’s Health Protection Act to legalize abortion nationwide and the second is that hospitals can claim religious exemption even when a woman is in dire circumstances.
Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act and then find a way to make clear that their tax exempt status and the flow of any federal funds to their facility is at risk.
How about sending a letter to HHS head Xavier Becerra and CMS head Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to let them know they should offer to withhold federal funds when hospitals threaten the lives of vulnerable patients in this way. You could also modify the IRS code 501 c 3 section for tax exemption for hospitals to be specific about prohibiting such life threatening behavior on “ethical grounds.
Here is a link to the story so you and your staff can read it your selves, https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/california-attorney-general-lawsuit-emergency-abortion-catholic-hospitals/.”
Action 2 State (Elected Reps and Governor)
Use RESISTBOT via [Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER] or by texting SIGN PFSKFD to 50409 on your cell phone to send this message to your State representatives and governor.
“I am your constituent and I want you to know about another religious hospital that refused to help a woman in a rural area hemorrhaging severely with unviable fetuses. They gave her towels and a bucket and sent her away. The problem is that hospitals can claim religious exemption even when a woman is in dire circumstances.
Religious hospitals are supposed to help people and for many they do. But when pregnancy is involved, they act badly and put women’s lives at risk. You can take action to fix it. You can be specific about not allowing such behavior in the state tax code that exempts these facilities from paying any taxes. You can also let them know that by threatening the lives of patients they risk losing all state funds. Here is your chance to help people who are vulnerable making sure they get the care they need. I expect you to do it.
Here is a link to the story so you and your staff can read it your selves, https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/california-attorney-general-lawsuit-emergency-abortion-catholic-hospitals/.”
RESOURCES
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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