In Spring 2019 the UC Regents deliberated a proposed affiliation between UCSF and Dignity Health, a Catholic hospital network. As one op-ed stated, "UC's governing board is flummoxed by the intricate ramifications of this proposal." They are not the only ones.
One out of every five hospital beds in the US lie within a religious hospital. Catholic hospitals in particular comprise a significant share of American health care institutions. Yet many Americans are unaware of the impact religious doctrine and religiously-informed policy can have on the information and care they receive and even their capacity to make decisions in line with their values. While the projected collaboration between UCSF and Dignity Health did not occur, the acceleration of mergers and partnerships between religious and non-religious institutions requires more attention to the "intricate ramifications" of religious health care and the conflicts between religious freedom and religious discrimination that arise in their wake.
Panelists:
Amy Littlefield (Rewire.News)
Arthurine Zakama (UCSF)
Karen Scott (UCSF)
Lisa Ikemoto (UC Davis)
Olga Smith (UCSF)
Moderators:
Lori Freedman (UCSF)
Ronit Stahl (UCB)
For more information, contact: Erin Wingo (erin.wingo@ucsf.edu)
