Abortion rights, women of color, and LGBTQIA+ people are under attack. Pledge to join us in fighting for gender justice.
NWLC Calls Out Providence Hospital for Trying to Escape Responsibility for Violating California Emergency Abortion Care Laws
Feb. 14, 2025 — Providence St. Joseph Hospital’s attempt to evade responsibility for how it harmed Dr. Anna Nusslock, DC, when she was denied emergency abortion care last year will be the subject of a hearing today in a Humboldt County Superior courtroom.
St. Joseph Health Northern California LLC, which operates the hospital, is attempting to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the California Attorney General’s Office. The suit claims the hospital violated state emergency care laws because, instead of providing Dr. Nusslock with life-saving health care while experiencing a miscarriage, staff sent her away with a bucket and towels.
Dr. Nusslock’s story is one of many since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, illustrating the dangerous trend of illegally denying patients life-saving care. However, California law is clear: emergency rooms must provide emergency care without exception or discrimination. Yet the hospital doctor who was supposed to care for Dr. Nusslock instead found her hands tied by a hospital policy based on religious doctrine.
K.M. Bell, senior litigation counsel at the National Women’s Law Center and Nusslock’s attorney, issued the following statement ahead of the hearing:
“No hospital should have the religious right to let their patients die or risk serious harm to their health. A year later, Dr. Nusslock continues to endure immense trauma as a result of being denied emergency abortion care.
“Last fall, the hospital agreed in a court order to comply with state law by permitting doctors to provide emergency abortion care when necessary. Now, it is attempting a ‘bait and switch.’ The hospital now claims it can avoid following the law whenever it conflicts with its interpretation of religious doctrine. That is not how the law works. Providence’s hospital system must not be allowed to risk the lives of any more patients.”
Please contact press@nwlc.org for interviews with K.M. Bell or Dr. Nusslock.