Catholic health care restrictions lead WA Legislature to eye changes

After years of unchecked mergers, nearly half of Washington state’s hospital beds are in Catholic-affiliated facilities. There, Catholic rules inhibit — or prohibit — aid in dying, abortion, certain fertility treatments, and contraception.

It’s not only women’s health issues. You may know about Living Wills and Advance Care directives. These give you the right to determine ahead of time that you do not want doctors to maintain your body with artificial means when you are near death.

But if you are in a Catholic-affiliated hospital, among the forms you or your legal representative will be given will likely be one that says: “We do not honor advance care directives.” This isn’t just boilerplate. It means that a Catholic priest or other church person may have the final say on whether your death is prolonged, against your wishes.
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