[Mrs. Don-o]

Here's some links to documents from the Catholic Ethics people which lay out the moral criteria under which pre-term induction of labor (not PRE-TERM SLAUGHTER OF BABY) can be justified --- in the extremely small number of cases in which continuation of the pregnancy would otherwise be imminently lethal:

http://www.ncpd.org/webinars/prenatal

Hope this helps.

I have taken a close interest in this, because it seems to me that the hospital people have misused the principle of double effect, and Bishop Olmstead --- though he's right --- hasn't done very well in explaining this to conscientious Catholic health professionals, let alone the press or the public at large.

If anybody wants to get back to me on this with questions, I will attempt to assemble the information I have.

I find it appalling that Catholic Health West, the consortium that owns and operates the hospital in question, couldn't come to a meeting of the minds with Bishop Olmstead about this. Even well-intentioned people are very confused about this because of dreadfully inept communication. It bodes very poorly for the future of many, many Catholic hospitals.

[kara37]

I'm not Catholic, so I am not familiar with Catholic Ethics. I also don't know if there was another option besides DNC or induction.

However, I do know that if they induced labor on a woman that was suffering from pulmonary hypertension, it would almost certainly amount to a death sentence. I couldn't imagine that it also wouldn't be considered malpractice.