Bishops and Bodies
Reproductive Care in American Catholic Hospitals
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Rutgers University Press
Published:14th Jul '23
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£120.00(9781978828872)
This insightful book reveals the challenges posed by Catholic healthcare policies, particularly how Bishops and Bodies affects reproductive rights and patient autonomy.
In Bishops and Bodies, the author explores the significant impact of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' policies on reproductive healthcare within Catholic hospitals. These policies, which prohibit abortion, sterilization, and various forms of reproductive care, create a challenging environment for both patients and healthcare providers. Through in-depth interviews, the book sheds light on the experiences of those affected by these restrictions, revealing a complex landscape where medical standards often clash with religious directives.
The narrative highlights the paradox faced by one in six patients in the United States who receive care in facilities governed by these policies. By detailing the struggles for bodily autonomy and the right to informed decision-making, Bishops and Bodies emphasizes the broader implications of such restrictions on healthcare access. The author captures the voices of patients and providers, illustrating how they navigate the often opaque rules set forth by the bishops, and the ways in which these rules shape their experiences and choices.
Ultimately, Bishops and Bodies offers a critical examination of the intersection between religion and healthcare, urging readers to consider the consequences of institutional policies on individual rights. It serves as a vital resource for understanding the ongoing debates surrounding reproductive rights and the role of religious institutions in shaping healthcare practices in the United States.
"Brilliant. . . . The trust Freedman built with her numerous interviewees is crucial, and readers are lucky they are willing to share their experiences. The book is full of compelling stories from patients and doctors, grounding Freedman's nuanced insights about the workings of Catholic health care. . . . It's all important. It's not a long book, and it is well worth the time spent. In nuanced detail, Freedman shows the dangers to pregnant and birthing people of a world in which medical care comes second to theology and politics, and those who carry pregnancies are treated as vessels. Many more Americans live in that world now, and all of us should be concerned about the consequences." (Nursing Clio) "Freedman is a gifted writer: these narratives are superbly written, as is the book overall." (Journal of Moral Theology) "We would do well to study [Freedman's] work carefully . . . . Bishops and Bodies memorably demonstrates the power of abortion stigma . . . . While we have allowed ourselves to imagine abortion, and really all reproductive healthcare, as somehow distinct from other forms of medicine, Freedman shows this to be a mirage." (Catholics for Choice) “It’s a recipe for disaster-the Catholic Church wants the most births possible, and most American women want to limit their childbearing and protect their health with modern advances in contraception and abortion. Yet in the name of corporate conscience, our anachronistic laws allow Catholic healthcare to require physicians of all faiths to do things that violate medical ethics and often constitute malpractice. Freedman’s compelling research, rich storytelling, and incisive analysis reveal how outrageous Bishop-knows-best medicine really is.” - Katie Watson (author of Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law and Politics of Ordinary Abortion) "Bishops and Bodies is poised to make a significant impact not just in social science and medical humanities circles, but in broader public conversations about health care, reproductive rights, and the place of religion in society." - Jessica Martucci (author of Back to the Breast: Natural Motherhood and Breastfeeding in America)
ISBN: 9781978828865
Dimensions: 235mm x 156mm x 26mm
Weight: 50g
228 pages