Humboldt Abortion Access Advocates - Public

09/27/2025

A must-read new letter from local OB providers:

We, the undersigned, are medical providers in Humboldt County invested in the care of pregnant people in our community. We want to share a message directly from us regarding the hearing held on Aug. 29, 2025 where Providence Health and Services called into question their duty to follow the Californi...

09/27/2025

Here's the latest news in the St. Joe's abortion case, in case you missed it: https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/aug/29/judge-holds-st-joseph-health-prior-agreement-emerg/

We just sent out our September newsletter. Subscribe here! https://franciscreekdigital.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fc86c4e55436ce1d755644ceb&id=dffe38edb7

08/28/2025

In case you missed it in our latest newsletter: There will be a court hearing in Eureka tomorrow, August 29, in the state's lawsuit against St. Joe's. You’re encouraged to attend if you can—it’s a great way to show your support for critical health care access for Humboldt County women and families.

Learn more here:

There will be a court hearing in Eureka this Friday in the state of California’s lawsuit against St. Joseph Hospital for denying emergency abortions to Humboldt County patients experiencing medical crises.

02/09/2025

Our featured speaker at our rally will be Anna Nusslock, a Eureka woman who has bravely shared her story of being denied emergency miscarriage treatment at St. Joe's last year. Please join us Friday morning, February 14 from 8:30-10am in front of the Eureka courthouse as we remind Providence and local leaders: We deserve health care, not buckets and towels.

More info on our page and website!

The state said that despite a doctor’s recommendation and state law, a Catholic hospital declined to provide an abortion because fetal heart tones were present.

02/07/2025

NEW: Come rally with us on February 14 and help protect reproductive health care in Humboldt County!

Let's tell St. Joe's and local leaders: Emergency abortion access is critical to the health and safety of Humboldt families. Religious extremism OUT of the E.R. Bans off our bodies!

Schedule:
- 8:30 AM: Gather outside Eureka courthouse.
- 9:30 AM: Featured speaker Anna Nusslock.
- 10:30 AM: Court hearing in California v. St. Joseph.

More info: HumboldtMutualAid.org

Bring your signs! Some will also be provided. If you're attending the court hearing, please stow your signs at 10:00 (e.g., in your car or with a friend) and head through courthouse security.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! Thank you!

02/07/2025

"The stakes of this could not be clearer: having acknowledged that they have, and will continue to, violate a law which requires them to adequately care for patients experiencing life threatening medical emergencies, SJH now asks this Court to condone their conduct by dismissing this action."

01/12/2025

Save the date and and get your questions ready for local medical leaders! "Humboldt County Fourth District Supervisor Natalie Arroyo and a panel of local medical leaders will hold a community learning event to share information about healthcare provider recruitment and retention in Humboldt on Monday, Jan. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Eureka.

"To watch the livestream, visit youtube.com/AccessHumboldt or tune in to Optimum Channel 8 from home."

https://humboldtgov.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=5760

News Flash

01/12/2025

In case you missed it over the holidays:

https://www.times-standard.com/2024/12/26/providence-seeking-dismissal-of-lawsuit-for-abortion-care/

https://www.northcoastjournal.com/NewsBlog/archives/2024/12/30/st-joseph-hospital-seeks-dismissal-of-abortion-lawsuit-cites-religious-freedom

The motion presented Monday by Providence has five points — including an argument that enforcement of the claims, and compelling the hospital to allow abortions that conflict with the Catholic Reli…

01/12/2025

Recently in SFGATE:

Two Humboldt County women allege they were denied emergency abortion care at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, sparking controversy over religious freedom.

01/11/2025

Hello, Humboldt community. Our latest newsletter just went out. You can join us, learn more, and find support at our updated site,

Organizing to protect abortion access in Humboldt County, California Find Support Go to resources Join us Go to signup Learn more Go to background

12/28/2024

This week, we heard St. Joe's first formal response to the state's September lawsuit alleging that the hospital “violated multiple California laws due to its refusal to provide emergency abortion care to people experiencing obstetric emergencies.”

In light of the fact that St. Joe's is the only option for pregnant patients in Humboldt County facing medical emergencies that threaten their life and health, the hospital's response is scary and enraging news, to say the least.

We are working this week to understand what practical impact (if any) this latest court filing could have on patient care in the immediate future. In October, St. Joe’s agreed to fully follow the state emergency services law while the lawsuit proceeds, and Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Timothy Canning signed that order into effect.

In the meantime, we encourage pregnant patients and their support people to check out these resources and get informed in case of emergency: https://www.humboldtmutualaid.org/resources

Sign up for our email updates here: https://www.humboldtmutualaid.org/join-us

12/19/2024

"If there's a silver lining to all this, [retired OB/GYN Kim] Ervin says she suspects it will be that Providence St. Joseph will do all it can, at least in the short term, to make sure it's following the law to avoid more lawsuits or further action from the state. She noted that the hospital has sent out a memo to providers saying it would not interfere with the judgement of a physician who deems an emergency procedure necessary.

"'If a woman comes in to the emergency room and she's bleeding, and she's early pregnancy or pre-viability ... I don't think there's going to be any kind of interference,' she says, adding the question is whether that will continue after the lawsuits resolve or media attention wanes."

Second lawsuit alleges pattern of unlawful denial of services at St. Joseph Hospital