Memorial shiloh Abandons plans to begin aborting babies
Boycott Believed To Have Been Influential In Changing Policy
The timeline of this issue...
Feb. 6, 2023 - The hospital administrative team met with affected nurses and operating room technicians to discuss performing “terminations for fetal anomalies at Memorial Shiloh", and to determine whether employees would opt in or out of assisting with those abortions.
Feb. 9, 2023 - Having been made aware of the meeting by staff, and after speaking with Memorial's then president, Mike McManus, one pro-life individual began to stand outside Memorial Shiloh each morning during shift change, holding a sign and providing literature about the issue to staff who stopped.
Feb. 13, 2023 - Less than a week after the meeting, the "Memorial Silent Witness" had formed, and people began standing at both entrances to the hospital campus, 7 days per week, with signs and information flyers targeted primarily at raising awareness among staff.
Mar. 19, 2023 - The Belleville News Democrat took notice, and after speaking with medical staff and reviewing memos and other documentation, the paper confirmed the information and ran a front page story about Memorial's plans.
May 22, 2023 & May 23, 2023 - Memorial BJC administrators met with doctors and staff and acknowledged that they were implementing their plan to begin performing induced abortions at Memorial Hospital Shiloh, as early as July 2023: 1) on unborn children with 'fatal fetal anomalies'; and 2) when BJC doctors contend that the mother had 'increased risk factors'.
By Early June 2023 - The "Memorial Silent Witness" changed its messaging to one of Boycott, and directed that message to staff, doctors, patients and the public in general.
Throughout 2023 & 2024 - Nursing and other employees quit, with some doing so immediately after Memorial's May 23rd announcement. A number of doctors quit and moved their practices off campus. Many patients dropped Memorial and BJC as a provider. Memorial was not able to, or chose not to, begin implementation of induced abortions in July 2023, as originally reported.
Nov. 2024 - While Memorial -BJC administration refused to communicate with the "Memorial Silent Witness" group, the latter was able to confirm that the hospital had not yet implemented its plans for induced abortions, and had abandoned its intentions to proceed with those plans.
Nov. 25, 2024 - "Memorial Silent Witness" therefore ceased its call for a boycott of Memorial-BJC, and ceased standing in front of the facility, 'parking' that effort. Should Memorial again pursue those plans, the boycott will be reinstated.