Daffodil Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Awhile back I read about Catholic-run hospitals spreading across the country. They didn't necessarily identify as catholic, so you didn't always know what they were. The article talked about the potential problems with this, such as end-of-life situations where the person and his/her loved ones did not want any efforts made to prolong their life when there was no hope. Of course, Catholicism would never allow feeding tubes to be removed or life support turned off regardless of the family's and patient's wishes. This was just one of the issues that could come up in a hospital like this. The author ended by encouraging people to be careful what hospital they end up in! Well, I remember thinking, "Thank goodness the only hospital in our (65,000 population) town is not religiously affiliated!" Guess what I saw in our newspaper the other day. Via Christi has purchased (or taken over or whatever they do) the only hospital we have! Just the name itself indicated what I feared! So I looked it up. Yup, Via Christi is catholic-run. The next closest major hospitals are about 45 minutes away and now I'm wondering who runs those! Even before de-converting I didn't want to ever by kept on a ventilator if there was no hope for me. I also want the right to end my life if there's no hope. Anyone else have this happen in their community? Any stories of catholic hospitals interfering in the care of their patients? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
★ Citsonga ★ Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Catholicism would never allow feeding tubes to be removed or life support turned off regardless of the family's and patient's wishes. Hospitals dictated by religion are horrible because of this kind of crap, but I just got to thinking about something that compounds it even further. Continuing the life support means more money in the hospital's pocket, at the expense of the patient's family and/or insurance. If the patient and/or family have indicated that they do not wish to continue life support, then they should NOT be liable for any additional expenses, nor their insurance provider. If the hospital wants to be jerks and force this on them, then the hospital should be legally restricted from billing for it. I'm sure that such billing happens, but there should be class-action lawsuits over that to ream their asses. Once it hits them in the pocketbook, they may change their policies. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted April 20, 2015 Super Moderator Share Posted April 20, 2015 I've heard about that too. Thirty-some years ago, I had to travel to a hospital further from me to get my tubes tied. The hospital close to me, where my kids were born, was catholic-affiliated and wouldn't perform that "sinful" surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinas Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 So why is this happening in the U.S? Who normally runs your hospitals? For all its' problems, thanks be to Nye Bevan for the N.H.S!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reprobate Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I did find it interesting that during implementation of the Affordable Care Act, that the catholic hospitals said that they would be providing contraception coverage for employees. It is amazing how fast "catholic principles" can go out the window when they have to compete for employees in female dominated fields. Great, now you got me worried. I work at an independent hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffodil Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 Citsonga- I Love that idea! I bet they would change their tune fast, too! Buffetphan- That's rediculous. That also reminds of the article's other example. I was unaware of this, but apparently there is a medication that can be given to a woman with an ectopic pregnancy that will dissolve it without the need for surgery and maintaining the woman's future fertility. A catholic hospital did not notify patients that this was an option at another hospital, because they see it as an abortion medication. They instead told them that the only option was to surgically remove the affected Fallopian tube. So, the patient would undergo unnecessary, expensive, risky surgery that would still end the pregnancy! Call me crazy, but isn't that still a form of abortion?! Ellinas- some are private and some are public. There's good and bad to this as I'm sure there is with the NHS as well. Reprobate- that is surprising! You should be worried. They are apparently quietly buying up hospitals all over the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdelsolray Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Awhile back I read about Catholic-run hospitals spreading across the country. They didn't necessarily identify as catholic, so you didn't always know what they were. The article talked about the potential problems with this, such as end-of-life situations where the person and his/her loved ones did not want any efforts made to prolong their life when there was no hope. Of course, Catholicism would never allow feeding tubes to be removed or life support turned off regardless of the family's and patient's wishes. This was just one of the issues that could come up in a hospital like this. The author ended by encouraging people to be careful what hospital they end up in! Well, I remember thinking, "Thank goodness the only hospital in our (65,000 population) town is not religiously affiliated!" Guess what I saw in our newspaper the other day. Via Christi has purchased (or taken over or whatever they do) the only hospital we have! Just the name itself indicated what I feared! So I looked it up. Yup, Via Christi is catholic-run. The next closest major hospitals are about 45 minutes away and now I'm wondering who runs those! Even before de-converting I didn't want to ever by kept on a ventilator if there was no hope for me. I also want the right to end my life if there's no hope. Anyone else have this happen in their community? Any stories of catholic hospitals interfering in the care of their patients? You could ask various Catholic run hospitals to provide their written policy on end of life care. Perhaps your concerns are unfounded. Then again they may not be. But until you actually know what their policy is, you are merely speculating, which is often a wasted effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gall Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 So why is this happening in the U.S? Who normally runs your hospitals? For all its' problems, thanks be to Nye Bevan for the N.H.S!!! In my area of the US this is actually happening in reverse we lose catholic hospitals as they are bought out or closed as the hospital I work for is buying up other smaller ones like crazy. they are spending almost a billion a year on it right now. I love not having to go to the catholic ones here. they have worse care and are not as up to date as the non profit one I work for. Of course dealing with working for a company with 30000 employees has its own issues as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted April 21, 2015 Super Moderator Share Posted April 21, 2015 I love not having to go to the catholic ones here. they have worse care and are not as up to date as the non profit one I work for. HA! That reminded me --- Around here the catholic hospitals are part of the Bon Secours hospital system and are commonly referred to as "Bone Suckers" (quite the contrast from their cheery little commercials that tell us they are "Good Help" which is the literal translation from French). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gall Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I love not having to go to the catholic ones here. they have worse care and are not as up to date as the non profit one I work for. HA! That reminded me --- Around here the catholic hospitals are part of the Bon Secours hospital system and are commonly referred to as "Bone Suckers" (quite the contrast from their cheery little commercials that tell us they are "Good Help" which is the literal translation from French). I don't trust any of them even the one I work for. I don't think many people would if they actually saw the way this shit runs. health care world wide is a shadow of what it realistically should be if we worked together. I don't look forward to a time in my life that I have no choice but to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipVanWinkle Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Good topic. There should be clear laws guaranteeing citizens hospitals without influence of religions of any kind, Violations would result in the loss of hospital licenses. Even better, these patient rights should be declared Constitutional rights by the Supreme Court. But with the current Court, I doubt that will happen. We really are still living in the dark ages.. Rip 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted April 21, 2015 Super Moderator Share Posted April 21, 2015 Research area hospitals. Know where you'd go in an emergency and where you would go for non-emergency procedures. Tell your friends and family your requirements. If you have to drive for an hour and pass a dozen other hospitals, so be it. Read the fine print and as always, caveat emptor. Avoid Catholic institutions like the plague that they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 So why is this happening in the U.S? Who normally runs your hospitals? For all its' problems, thanks be to Nye Bevan for the N.H.S!!! In my area all hospitals are named after and run by religious groups. Bible quotes are everywhere. And somebody comes by each room daily to pray with you. If you tell them you are not Christian they ask if they can pray over you anyway. I'm not sure what happens if you refuse that. I guess they go away. They might just go stand outside the room and pray anyway for all I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCM Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 this is why i'm happy to live in a country with public healthcare. sure its got problems, as any large organisations have, which we should strive to fix. what it doesn't need is the unnecessary load of religious problems and agenda's on top of that I don't trust Christians/Catholics as it is, I certainly wouldn't trust them when they have complete power over me. I'd rather not end my life as i began it -in the power of religious people, seeking to carry out their beliefs/agenda at my expense. that would be very bitter. Tell me if this is a problem in the states, but if your in a catholic run hospital, can they send priests in to bother you at your deathbed? I imagine it's more bureaucratic than that, and its just the owners who are catholic so the staff don't care too much. so please tell me i'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffodil Posted April 22, 2015 Author Share Posted April 22, 2015 SCM - I would think you or a loved one would have to ask for a priest. And I don't think they give last rites to non-Catholics anyway. I could be wrong, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Tell me if this is a problem in the states, but if your in a catholic run hospital, can they send priests in to bother you at your deathbed? I imagine it's more bureaucratic than that, and its just the owners who are catholic so the staff don't care too much. so please tell me i'm wrong. The one in my town will ask if you want a chaplain or not. Nobody will bother you on your death bed if you don't want them. Many people want the chaplain to sit with them while they lay dying. Especially if family members aren't there. I would hate to have that guy's job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCM Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 The one in my town will ask if you want a chaplain or not. Nobody will bother you on your death bed if you don't want them. Many people want the chaplain to sit with them while they lay dying. Especially if family members aren't there. I would hate to have that guy's job. Ok that sounds a bit more normal, and yeah it would be a pretty rough task i imagine. thanks for clearing that up. I'm getting the vibe that it's more what you can't get at these places than what you have to get. certain surgeries and medications (contraceptives and end of life situations come to mind) Daffodil I hope your situation works out for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I live in Catholic-land and almost all hospitals in the area are religiously-affiliated. It's hard to avoid, but thankfully I haven't run into issues. However I'm having a procedure done soon and yesterday I was registering with the hospital. I was talking to an older lady and she's asking questions, she gets to "Your religion?" I pause, and say (for the first time ever) "None." Long pause. "Oh. None." I think this heathen ruined her afternoon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
★ Citsonga ★ Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 I live in Catholic-land and almost all hospitals in the area are religiously-affiliated. It's hard to avoid, but thankfully I haven't run into issues. However I'm having a procedure done soon and yesterday I was registering with the hospital. I was talking to an older lady and she's asking questions, she gets to "Your religion?" I pause, and say (for the first time ever) "None." Long pause. "Oh. None." I think this heathen ruined her afternoon. Haha. Hopefully you won't run into any problems with them, though. By the way, I've been meaning to tell you that I always have to do a double-take when I see your user name. At first glance I nearly always read it as violentbutterfly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
older Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 Valerie Tarico, a frequent contributor to this site, wrote a piece about this that was posted on the main blog. It is a troubling read. The article includes links to specific Catholic documents that order hospitals to ignore patient wishes if they conflict with Catholic teaching. Here is a link: http://new.exchristian.net/2013/05/will-catholic-bishops-decide-how-you-die.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffodil Posted April 24, 2015 Author Share Posted April 24, 2015 Older - Yes, that's the article I read! Thanks for finding that. I couldn't remember where I'd read it. After rereading it, I'm even more disturbed because of the incredible amount of government funding they are getting. That alone should preclude them from being able to inflict their beliefs on care! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
violetbutterfly Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 That article is scary. Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
older Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Something that EVERYONE should do is prepare your advanced directives and power of attorney for health care (as well as p.o.a for financial affairs). Regardless of your age, you cannot know when you will be incapacitated. Remember the Terri Schiavo case? She lapsed into an irreversible coma at the age of 27. If she had an advanced directive document, the fight to end her life might not have involved 15 years, 14 appeals, the Florida Supreme Court, the US Supreme Court, Congress and President Bush. (The latter two stepping in, in an attempt to deny her husband the right to end her life.) Also prepare a "letter of instruction" that spells out anything you want done if you are incapable of telling someone. I keep copies of mine in the glove box of my truck. If I get slammed 1000 miles from home, I hope that someone will find those documents and follow their guidelines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noelle7 Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 We have Holy Family Hospital in this area, I've had bad experiences with it for n( personal problems). A woman I know who is a nurse who was affiliated with this hospital, said they really don't do anything. They don't do tubal litigations, and I don't think they do abortions wither, or even emergency birth control. Kind of s scary though, because one never knows what kind of awful situation they can be in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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