Skagit court’s ruling on hospital abortions won’t apply here

Skagit court’s ruling on hospital abortions won’t apply here

EVERETT — Don’t look for any immediate changes at Snohomish County’s three tax-supported public hospitals due to a Skagit County judge’s recent ruling on abortion.

For now, the decision holding that public hospitals that provide maternity services must also provide abortions on site applies only to Skagit Regional Health, a hospital and clinic group based in Mount Vernon, said Mary Kay Clunies-Ross, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Hospital Association.

“It’s really about what’s happening in Skagit County,” she said. “It’s way too early to know what will happen next.”

Only Skagit Regional Health has the legal standing to launch an appeal so it’s up to the hospital to decide how to respond, she said.

In Snohomish County there are three public hospitals. Each get part of their income by taxing property owners. They are in Edmonds, Monroe and Arlington.

All three are operated by larger health care organizations. The Edmonds hospital is managed by Seattle-based Swedish. The Monroe hospital is operated by EvergreenHealth in Kirkland. As of June 1, the Arlington hospital is operated by Skagit Regional Health, which is involved in the lawsuit.

Kari Ranten, a spokeswoman for Skagit Regional Health, said in an email that the hospital “is reviewing the ruling and deciding on our next steps.”

Fred Langer, a board member of Swedish Edmonds, said he didn’t think the Skagit judge’s ruling would have an immediate impact.

“What I can tell you is it won’t affect the day-to-day operation of the hospital for the foreseeable future,” Langer said.

The overwhelming majority of elective abortions are done in out-patient clinics, he said. Langer said he hasn’t heard of anyone who lives in the hospital district being denied reproductive services or “birth control of any kind.”

Langer, who is an attorney, said he thinks the issue will be appealed. “This is a decision that ultimately will be decided by a higher court,” he said.

Kay Taylor, a spokeswoman for EvergreenHealth, said the organization feels it is meeting the requirements of state law.

If an abortion is requested by the patient, physicians would make a referral “and help people get into clinics if that’s what it takes to ensure the service can be provided,” said Nancee Hofmeister, Evergreen’s chief nursing officer.

The lawsuit was filed last year by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, as part of an effort to ensure public health care facilities follow the state’s abortion rights law, the Reproductive Privacy Act, passed by voter initiative in 1991.

Skagit Regional Health, like many area hospitals, refers patients seeking abortions to outside clinics, such as Planned Parenthood.

The state Attorney General’s office filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, arguing that state law requires that when maternity care services are provided, “substantially equivalent abortion services must also be provided.”

Technically, the Skagit County judge’s ruling so far applies solely to the hospital district sued in the case, Peter Lavallee, a spokesman for the state attorney general’s office said in an email.

“But we believe the ruling accurately states the law, and other hospital districts should review it carefully and make sure they are in compliance with the Reproductive Privacy Act,” he said.

Hospitals that opted to provide elective abortions on site would face another issue, Clunies-Ross said. Employers can’t discriminate in hiring or ask staff how they feel about performing abortions, she said.

“Hospitals are in a tough position,” she said. “Regardless of the court ruling, there still may not be providers or staff willing to perform them.”

This story includes material from the Associated Press.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Alex Hanson looks over sections of the Herald and sets the ink on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Black Press, publisher of Everett’s Daily Herald, is sold

The new owners include two Canadian private investment firms and a media company based in the southern United States.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.