**California Sues Catholic Hospital for Refusing Emergency Abortion**

A legal battle has erupted in California after a Catholic hospital allegedly denied an emergency abortion, despite a medical doctor's recommendation and state laws supporting abortion rights. The state contends that the hospital's refusal endangered the patient's health and violated state mandates.

Anna Nusslock, a 36-year-old chiropractor from Eureka, California, faced an unexpected and harrowing situation in February. When her water broke just 15 weeks into her pregnancy, causing severe bleeding, she rushed to Providence St. Joseph Hospital. Medical professionals informed her that one of the twins she was carrying would not survive, and the other had a minimal chance of survival, posing serious risks to her health. They advised an emergency abortion to prevent potential infection, hemorrhage, and future fertility issues.

However, due to the presence of fetal heart tones, the hospital, following its Catholic-affiliated policies, refused to perform the procedure unless Nusslock's life was in immediate danger. After several critical hours, her husband resorted to driving her to another hospital. By the time they arrived, she was hemorrhaging and had passed a blood clot the size of an apple. Medical records indicate that she expelled one fetus and required immediate surgery to remove the other.

Nusslock expressed her shock and disappointment, stating, "I thought I would be safe here from things like this, from people taking away choices from me and leaving me in danger." This incident highlights a concerning trend seen in states with stringent abortion bans but garners particular attention because it occurred in California, known for its strong pro-choice stance.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the significance of the case, pointing out that such incidents can happen even in states with robust abortion rights protections like California. On Monday, Bonta filed a lawsuit against the company operating Providence St. Joseph, accusing the hospital of violating California's law that requires emergency rooms to provide care to prevent not only death but also serious injury or illness.

The case underscores the ongoing conflict between religious institutions' policies and state laws designed to protect patient health and reproductive rights.