A transgender individual whose hysterectomy surgery was canceled by a Catholic hospital due to religious objections sued the medical institution last week, alleging discrimination and violations of constitutionally protected rights.
Jesse Hammons, who was born female but identifies as male, was scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy in January. Yet one week prior to the surgery, the hospital – St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, Md. – contacted Hammons to cancel it.
St. Joseph said it was bound by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, which were created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, according to The Baltimore Sun.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit on behalf of Hammons, alleging the hospital violated the Constitution’s Establishment Clause because St. Joseph receives state money. The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making a “law respecting an establishment of religion.”
The suit also claims violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
“The government has no business running a religious hospital,” said ACLU senior staff attorney Joshua Block.
St. Joseph is part of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).
“The Supreme Court has been clear that a government-controlled corporation like UMMS must comply with the…
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