I have not heard much public criticism of the proposed acquisition of University of Louisville Hospital by Catholic Health Initiatives from UofL faculty members.\u00a0 Not surprisingly there has been support by the University-dominated boards of the hospital, the Cancer Center, and the like.\u00a0 The individual response of the retired faculty member of the Brandeis School of Law and widely respected constitutional law scholar, Professor Robert Stenger, could not have been more critical of the proposal.\u00a0 I asked an old friend on the Medical School Faculty how his colleagues felt about the acquisition.\u00a0 I was told that they were unsettled.<\/p>\n
There are legitimate reasons of self-protection why individual current faculty members might hesitate to express their honest opinions. \u00a0Such a move could be a career-limiting event. \u00a0I confess to being a little surprised but immensely proud when I was given the following letter sent by the most senior faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences to President James Ramsey and Provost Shirley Willihnganz.\u00a0 Their letter is in the finest tradition of higher education and citizenship.\u00a0 I do not believe it has been published before, or a least I have not seen it referenced in the current debate.\u00a0 There is little I can add to it.\u00a0 Here it is.<\/p>\n
July 21, 2011
\nDear Jim and Shirley.
\nI’m writing to express the deep concern of the undersigned regarding the conditions of the University Hospital merger. Of course, none of us is privy to the negotiations underway. We have, however, read reports in the Press, including those of your press conference. The most recent accounts indicate that one procedure-tubal ligation performed immediately after Caesarean-will be prohibited at the merged hospitals, although other matters like emergency contraception after rape, living wills, end-of-life treatment, domestic partner rights, and therapeutic abortion have not been addressed. Yet, earlier this year, the A & S Chairs and faculty were specifically told that decisions about medical procedures would not be affected in any way by the merger. Understanding that some matters remain to be worked out, we wish to protest what appears to be contractual agreement that religious beliefs can or should mandate medical at a state-supported hospital. The University Hospital is a public institution; no medical treatment at a public institution should be decided by religious strictures (excepting the patient’s own religious decisions). Further, since University is the hospital of last resort for poor patients, restrictions of contraceptive or other procedures will disproportionately affect those who are least able to seek medical care elsewhere.
\nThe fact that University of Louisville faculty and the Medical School remain independent of the merger does not make the problem go away. It is both the principle of submitting to religious limitations on medical practice and the specific details that result from that principle that are alarming. In the past, the University of Louisville, and, under Jim, the President’s Office in particular, has led the way in protecting the rights of all Louisvillians and Kentuckians. We hope that you will continue to uphold those high standards.
\nThank you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n[I was not provided a list of the signatories, but I am told by a trusted source that “almost all the A&S Chairs and Assistant and Associate deans signed …. more signatures were added a day or two later.” \u00a0\u00a0I would be pleased to\u00a0confidentially or anonymously\u00a0receive other commentary that has been distributed internally at the University and Hospital. \u00a0If there is a signatory to the letter above who wishes to attach their name to it, the letter can find the wider public distribution that it deserves. \u00a0Both academic and medical ethical principles are being violated. \u00a0Galileo would well recognize what is happening here today.
\nPeter Hasselbacher, MD]<\/p>\n[In response to the faculty letter above, President Ramsey sent out a long letter on the very same day. \u00a0Since I received that letter personally, I will republish it here.<\/a>]<\/p>\n
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