US Health Department Warns Texas Hospitals on Care for Newborn With Disability
Listen to the story
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has warned hospitals in Texas not to deny life-saving care to a newborn with a disability.
The warning came after a legal fight between a California couple and others over the baby's surrogacy arrangement.
In a surrogacy arrangement, a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple who cannot have children themselves.
The dispute also touched on questions related to abortion, which is the ending of a pregnancy before birth.
The situation became urgent when there were concerns that the newborn's care might be denied because of the baby's disability.
A judge stepped in and issued an order requiring the hospital to provide life-saving medical treatment to the baby.
Following the judge's decision, the baby was born in Texas and received the necessary care.
HHS then sent a formal warning to hospitals across the state, reminding them of their legal duty to treat all newborns, including those with disabilities.
The department said that denying care based on disability could violate federal law, which protects people from discrimination in medical treatment.
The case has drawn attention because it combines several sensitive issues: abortion rights, surrogacy law, and disability protections.
It remains unclear what specific disability the baby has, as this detail was not made public.
The California couple who arranged the surrogacy have not commented publicly on the outcome.
Officials say the case highlights the importance of ensuring that hospitals follow federal rules when treating vulnerable patients, especially newborns who cannot advocate for themselves.
Vocabulary10 words
- HHS
- a large U.S. government department that manages health matters
- disability
- a lasting condition that affects how a person's body or mind works
- surrogacy
- an arrangement where a woman carries a baby for someone else
- abortion
- the medical ending of a pregnancy before birth
- order
- an official decision made by a judge
- discrimination
- unfair treatment of a person based on who they are
- federal law
- a rule that applies across the whole country
- newborn
- a baby who has just been born
- vulnerable
- easily harmed and needing protection
- arrangement
- a plan or agreement between people
Quiz
Answer key
1. To stop them denying life-saving care to a newborn with a disability 2. The judge ordered the hospital to give the baby life-saving care 3. Texas
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has warned hospitals in Texas not to _____ life-saving care to a newborn with a disability.
The warning came after a legal fight between a California couple and others over the baby's _____ arrangement.
In a surrogacy arrangement, a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or _____ who cannot have children themselves.
The dispute also touched on questions related to _____, which is the ending of a pregnancy before birth.
The situation became urgent when there were concerns that the newborn's care might be denied because of the baby's _____.
A _____ stepped in and issued an order requiring the hospital to provide life-saving medical treatment to the baby.
HHS then sent a formal warning to hospitals across the state, reminding them of their legal _____ to treat all newborns.
The department said that denying care based on disability could violate _____ law.
The case has drawn attention because it combines several sensitive issues: abortion rights, surrogacy law, and disability _____.
It remains unclear what specific disability the baby has, as this detail was not made _____.
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