I didn’t set out today to just say nice things about random statewide elected Democrats. I mean I have problems with all of them. But kudos to Attorney General Ferguson for this opinion.
Any public health district in Washington that provides maternity care must continue to offer “substantially equivalent benefits” in the form of contraception and abortion services, even if it contracts with a religious-affiliated medical organization, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in an opinion Wednesday.
“I fully expect all public hospital districts to comply with this opinion,” Ferguson told a Seattle news conference.
The opinion impacts a growing trend in Washington, in which small local hospitals have chosen to affiliate with larger health organizations, including Catholic-affiliated PeaceHealth and Providence Health and Services.
Good work. It’s no substitute for the Reproductive Parity Act, but it’s a good opinion and hopefully it will spur action in the next legislative session (I can hope).
In a religious atmosphere, the easiest job would be as a Christian Scientist pharmacist.
Do you see any public but religious hospitals getting rid of maternity care just out of spite?