Monday's decision overturned a lower court ruling that favored two Christian doctors who refused fertility treatment to a lesbian citing religious grounds. The woman, Guadalupe Benitez, 36, successfully filed suit against the Vista-based North Coast Women's Care Medical Group in 2004 on the basis that their refusal to treat her violated California's anti-discrimination laws.
Benitez stated that doctors told her back in 2000 that since she was a lesbian, they could not provide her with artificial insemination as their Christian beliefs prohibited them from doing it.
They then sent her to another clinic to receive the insemination.
Justice Joyce Kennard said that that doctors have no right to decide who they will treat or who they will not treat based on their religious beliefs. The ruling comes three months after overturning California's ban on same-sex marriage.
Benitez has since given birth to three children, and has a family with her partner of 18 years.
