MaineHealth Sued over Potential Closure of Labor and Delivery Unit
The lawsuit seeks to stop a vote that could close Maine’s only labor and delivery unit, with a hearing possible as early as Thursday morning.
- On Wednesday, pregnant Lincoln County resident Corrinna Stum filed a lawsuit seeking an emergency injunction to block the MaineHealth Board of Trustees from voting Thursday on closing the Lincoln Hospital maternity unit.
- MaineHealth officials cite staffing shortages and low birth volumes as reasons for the potential closure; the Miles Delivers Action Coalition argues publicly available data shows birth rates at the 25-bed facility are rising.
- The lawsuit alleges MaineHealth violated state law and fiduciary duties by failing to adequately investigate reasonable alternatives. Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree have formally urged the hospital to delay the decision.
- A closure would be the 12th in Maine since 2015, leaving Lincoln, Waldo, and Sagadahoc counties without operating birthing units and forcing patients to travel at least 40 miles to Brunswick or Rockport.
- Reflecting national trends, more than 140 rural hospitals have stopped offering maternity services since 2020, creating 'maternity deserts' that studies show lead to worsened infant and maternal health outcomes.
13 Articles
13 Articles
wiscassetnewspaper.com
MaineHealth sued over potential closure of labor and delivery unit
A pregnant resident of Lincoln County, with the backing of a grassroots organizing group, filed a lawsuit against MaineHealth on Wednesday to prevent the closure of a labor and delivery unit at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta. MaineHealth’s board of trustees is expected to vote on the closure Thursday morning.
MaineHealth sued over potential closure of labor and delivery unit • Maine Morning Star
Members of Miles Delivers Action Coalition marched to MaineHealth in Portland to protest the potential closure on Saturday, August 1. (Photo by Megan Blonigen/ The Maine Monitor) This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from the Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here. A pregnant resident of Lincoln County, with the backing of a grassroots org…
Pregnant Woman Files Lawsuit Against MaineHealth
A pregnant Newcastle resident is filing a lawsuit against MaineHealth as its board considers closing the labor and delivery unit at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta. Corrinna Stum is due to give birth in January and filed the lawsuit at the Lincoln County Superior Court on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The goal of the suit is to seek an injunction to pause the MaineHealth Board of Trustee’s final vote on the closure, which is set to take place on Thursday,…
Lewiston Sun Journal
Lawsuit seeks to stop MaineHealth board vote on Lincoln Hospital birthing center
A Newcastle woman, who is pregnant, filed a lawsuit against the health system, seeking an injunction to keep the board from voting on whether to close the maternity ward.
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