Complaint: Citing Catholic Rules, Doctor Turns Away Bleeding Woman With Dislodged IUD

[moonshaz]

Melanie Jones arrived for her doctor’s appointment bleeding and in pain. Jones, 28, who lives in the Chicago area, had slipped in her bathroom, and suspected the fall had dislodged her copper intrauterine device (IUD

Comments

[cherriesarered]

Hooooly shit, this is so frightening. I don't understand how a medical professional can refuse care to a bleeding person, especially when the alternative is an entire month of that person continuing to bleed?? I'm glad that she was able to get treatment, but so scared and angry at the hoops she had to jump through in order to get it.

[sugartitty]

This is the height of absurdity

[screw_reality]

“Generally, our protocol in caring for a woman with a dislodged or troublesome IUD is to offer to remove it.”

So were the first doctor and whoever she allegedly conferred with new? Or just vindictive. Her response doesn't even make sense within the the Catholic church's views on contraception. Wouldn't removing an IUD be considered a boon? Their refusal to replace it would still be a massive inconvenience, but at least you aren't actively bleeding and left vulnerable to possible infection.

Entire networks probably shouldn't be Catholic. Stick a couple secular places in there so people have options.

This sentiment makes me so nervous because the nearest hospital to me is also Catholic. God forbid if I'm ever assaulted that's where I'd be rushed just so they can refuse me emergency contraception.

[honorh]

I've got two hospitals near me. One has an absolutely terrible reputation. The other has a great reputation (and they cared wonderfully for my dad in the last years of his life), but is Catholic. If I were ever assaulted, I'd have no choice but to go to St. Elsewhere.

[roseembolism]

I'm suspicious that they weren't misinformed on hospital policy at all- until the hospital was sued.

[moonbladem]

This is such bullcrap. So what if the hospital/network etc is Catholic-owned? Patients shouldn't be bound by the hospital's religious rules, especially not someone who's bleeding, in pain and seriously needs help. If they want to own and run hospitals, then they should understand that they can't force their patients, who come from all walks of life and religious persuasions, or none at all, to abide by THEIR religious beliefs.

I mean, imagine for a moment, if the hospital were Muslim-owned and they made their patients abide by their religious rules. Imagine the hell that would raise. But since it's Catholic... nope, not a peep.

Fucking ridiculous, not to mention insidious, this gradual proliferation of Catholic-owned health institutions into our healthcare system. So nice to know they'd rather allow a woman to bleed to death or suffer from immense pain because she had the gall to use birth control. What happened to freedom of choice or hell... simply, freedom?

[natyanayaki]

Your comment reminded me of and Indian/Hindu woman who died in Ireland because they refused to abort/induce her when she had severe complications with her pregnancy...

[chaya]

“That act [of removing an IUD] in itself does not violate the directives,” Marty Folan, Mercy’s director of mission integration, told Rewire.

NO SHIT