Providence St. Joseph Hospital and the California Attorney General’s office have reached a temporary agreement in a case alleging the Catholic-owned hospital violated state laws by denying emergency abortion care to pregnant patients. Last month, Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, alleging it illegally refused emergency abortion care to a woman who was 15 weeks pregnant and hemorrhaging. According to a stipulated agreement released Tuesday, St. Joseph agrees to comply with state law and will allow termination of a patient’s pregnancy if not doing so would seriously risk the patient’s health. St. Joseph and its parent organization Providence admit no liability under the stipulation, which is subject to court approval.
