Religion With Your Morphine

The sale of Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette is straddling the line between medical care and religious beliefs. The buyer is a Catholic organization, and many in the community are ready to break out the pitchforks (two lawsuits are on file, one by Exempla). Being a religious entity, some healthcare services will no longer be offered, such as do-not-resuscitate directives and tubal ligations. Kaiser is threatening to send patients elsewhere, while trying to create a “carve out” section of the hospital not bound by religion.

What’s Next: Let’s hope Boulder Community Hospital and Kaiser team up again or a “carve out” succeeds.