By Jami Thall & Carol Loscalzo
The Reproductive Justice Task Force of Unitarian Universalist Faith Action NJ advocates for reproductive health, equity, and justice throughout the state of NJ. We have received reports that women being held in detention in Delaney Hall are not receiving the essential medical care they need and are entitled to.
Imagine you’ve suffered a miscarriage, the loss of a pregnancy. As a society we have come to understand the impact of such a loss, both physical and emotional. A miscarriage can be a serious medical event. A pregnancy that ends in miscarriage can result in permanent damage to the health of the mother if not evaluated and treated properly. The emotional impact can be profound as well. We have made progress from the days when women who miscarried were told to move on and we now recognize how difficult it is to lose a wanted pregnancy.
Now imagine you’ve suffered a miscarriage, but instead of receiving the essential medical attention you require, you are ignored. No doctor to evaluate and treat your symptoms. No pain management. No emotional support. You are alone. You are afraid.
Here in NJ at Delaney Hall this is the plight of at least one woman who has suffered a miscarriage while being held in detention.
The Reproductive Justice Task Force of UU Faith Action NJ demands that the people being held in detention at Delaney Hall receive immediate, much needed medical attention. Specifically we demand that all women being detained receive the gynecological and obstetric care that they need. It is our moral responsibility as a society to care for everyone, especially those who are the most vulnerable. And certainly we can all agree that pregnant women held in detention are among the most vulnerable members of our society.
We call upon our elected officials at the local, state and national level to take every possible step to ensure that Geo Group, the for-profit prison that runs Delaney Hall, immediately provides essential medical care to the people who are being held in detention. We also call upon our elected officials to insist that a system of independent verification be put in place to ensure that Geo Group does in fact meet their obligation to provide appropriate medical treatment for our neighbors in detention.
Reproductive Justice Task Force
UU Faith Action NJ