Today, one in six U.S. hospitals are religiously affiliated and operated in accordance with Catholic religious rules. That means men and women, but particularly women, are being denied services, and in some cases, life-saving emergencies procedures. In five states, more than 40% of hospital beds operate under these rules, including Washington State, where I live. In some areas, there is no other choice for care.
These rules limit women's reproductive health services and emergency care, hospice services, and services to LGBTQ patients.
We live in 2016. It is unconscionable that people are being denied services because of arcane rules decided by religious faith, not science, in this day and age.
Just like we separated church and state, it's time to separate church and medical care.