This month, a fresh legal case has been brought forward targeting Providence St. Joseph Hospital located in Eureka. On April 1st, the National Women’s Law Center submitted the complaint on behalf of Anna Nusslock. It claims that the medical facility wrongfully refused to provide Ms. Nusslock with an urgent termination of pregnancy when her situation posed imminent risks to both her well-being and survival following a loss of twins through miscarriage back in February.
The lawsuit claims that this rejection is part of a "calculated and deliberate strategy to withhold treatment from pregnant individuals facing an urgent health crisis."
My life was endangered when I visited Providence because they declined to offer care based on their religious beliefs," stated Nusslock in an NWLC press release. "Following that incident, my health has progressively worsened. Nonetheless, I am advocating not only for myself but also for those who might encounter similar horrors. Nobody should have access to critical healthcare barred.
During a telephone interview, Nusslock spoke with the Times-Standard and emphasized that broadening access to essential and potentially lifesaving abortion services meant "absolutely everything" to her. She also pointed out that this fresh legal challenge presented a chance to build on the state's argument and persistently advocate for responsibility.
I will never cease advocating for responsibility and fairness… forever," Nusslock stated. "It's quite reassuring that we have managed to hold the larger Providence healthcare system responsible rather than merely focusing on our nearby St. Joseph branch of Providence. I am eager to do everything within my power… My aim is to ensure that women across the globe can access essential emergency medical services.
In September, California Attorney General Rob Bonta lodged a complaint against Providence St. Joseph.
In a temporary restraining order submitted in September and accepted in October, the hospital consented to several provisions throughout the duration of that legal case. This injunction specifies that "Providence Hospital particularly commits to... permit its doctors to end a patient’s pregnancy... whenever the attending physician(s), based on their professional discretion, conclude that not promptly terminating the pregnancy could likely cause significant harm to the patient’s well-being; lead to substantial impairment of the patient’s physical functions; or induce severe malfunctioning of any body organ."
However, earlier this year, Providence attempted to have the state’s lawsuit dismissed, aiming to end the preliminary injunction and arguing that the hospital had already adhered to state laws. This motion led to a Rally for Reproductive Rights held at the steps of the Humboldt County Courthouse in February.
It’s extremely irritating to hear the hospital provide such varied responses regarding their adherence to the law," stated Nusslock. "Since they will issue declarations asserting 'we comply with the law,' but subsequently produce information suggesting otherwise.
Accountability
We will hold Providence responsible for leaving Anna without support when she needed help," stated K.M. Bell, a senior counselor at NWLC, in a press statement. "We must not permit hospitals to deny emergency treatment due to their beliefs. We aim to guarantee that all expectant patients receive the urgent medical attention required and to stop such incidents from recurring.
Bell informed the Times-Standard that the NWLC’s separate private lawsuit differs from the state's case. The latter aims to compel Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka to fulfill its mandatory obligation of providing abortion services through an injunction. According to Bell, the recently submitted lawsuit additionally names the broader corporate entities owning the hospital as defendants. It further calls for financial compensation due to the harmful policies and practices that have severely affected—and continues to affect—Nusslock.
We think it's crucial to make the hospital responsible for the continuous damage being done to Nusslock and the distress she has endured," Bell stated. "She lived in fear of bleeding out when she wasn't receiving treatment, which continues to affect her daily life, her business operations, as well as her capacity to engage in everyday tasks. The diagnosis of PTSD highlights just how profoundly this situation has impacted her.
Moreover, Bell stated, the private lawsuit seeks injunctive relief for all Providence hospitals in California, aiming to compel these facilities to explicitly adhere to both state and federal laws concerning abortion services. Providence manages 51 hospitals across seven states, including 16 located in California.
The NWLC’s press statement highlights that under state legislation, California hospitals must offer emergency healthcare services—such as abortions—to patients facing risks to their health or lives. The organization points out that denying such care due to factors like gender, encompassing pregnancy-associated issues, breaches California’s anti-discrimination statutes.
Moreover, hospitals are obligated under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act to offer abortion care during emergencies.
The complaint
The legal complaint asserts that on February 23, 2024, approximately 15 weeks into a high-risk pregnancy involving twins, Dr. Nusslock urgently sought treatment at the emergency room of SJ Hospital due to her waters breaking prematurely along with symptoms such as bleeding and intense pain caused by contractions. Upon arrival at the hospital’s emergency unit...Dr. Nusslock received a diagnosis indicating previable preterm premature rupture of membranes (referred to as 'PPROM' before viability). In cases without prompt intervention, this condition could result in serious complications including severe infections or sepsis, acute renal failure, circulatory collapse, acute respiratory distress syndrome—the abrupt onset of breathing difficulties—and even strokes leading up to fatality, particularly when dealing with complex pregnancies similar to Dr. Nusslock’s case. Immediate emergent termination procedures were necessary for safeguarding her health against those potential threats.
To Dr. Nusslock’s surprise, though, the treating physician informed her that the hospital’s policy prevented them from giving her the urgent medical attention necessary due to the specific situation and health issues connected with her pregnancy... Rather than offering the critical treatment required to avoid additional harm or fatality, SJ Hospital incorrectly released Dr. Nusslock. The doctor advised her to travel to Mad River Community Hospital instead... The sole “treatment” offered by SJ Hospital consisted of a bucket and some towels "just in case anything occurs during the journey."
In October 2024, Mad River Community Hospital closed its birth center, leaving Providence St. Joseph Hospital as the sole birthing facility across an expanse of approximately 4,000 square miles, which is comparable in size to the state of Connecticut.
The complete text of the Nusslock and NWLC lawsuit can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/4h5rpnxu .
Providence’s response
On April 1, the Providence St. Joseph Hospital issued a statement concerning the lawsuit.
"Serving the people of Humboldt County is an honor that we, at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka, do not underestimate," the statement says. "We are entirely dedicated to offering top-notch, empathetic care, much like what we've done over the past century." The statement continues, "The situation outlined in this lawsuit is profoundly disheartening and distressing. We firmly pledge to deliver treatment following both federal and state laws, along with adhering to our ethos as a religiously affiliated institution. This commitment encompasses administering urgent lifesaving treatments which might inadvertently lead to fetal demise.”
As a Catholic healthcare provider, we openly state that we do not carry out elective abortions. Nonetheless, during emergencies, our medical teams offer essential treatments... in line with both the California Emergency Services Law and theEmergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act.
The complete text of Providence St. Joseph’s response can be accessed [here](https://www.providence.org). https://tinyurl.com/6da34v7f .
Robert Schaulis can be contacted at 707-441-0585.
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