Sisters Of Charity Of Leavenworth Health System's Medical Practices Spark Outrage

Sisters Of Charity Of Leavenworth Health System's Medical Practices Spark Outrage

DENVER- In the next few months, as the Kansas-based Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System assumes control of two hospitals in the metro area formerly run by Exempla Healthcare, nearly 40 percent of hospital beds here will be run under directives approved by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Abortions will be limited to cases where the mother is at risk of death. Reproductive services will also likely be severely curtailed, as will end-of-life care, regardless of legal advance directives authored by patients.

It's the latest chapter in a long-running deal that is quietly altering health care here.

In October, the Exempla board voted to give the Sisters of Charity operational control of its Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette. Exempla's Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver already operated according to Catholic principles.

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