Twelve nurses employed at a hospital run by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey are suing the facility, claiming that the hospital is forcing nurses to assist in abortions.

According to the nurses, originally UMDNJ allowed its staff to opt out of assisting in abortions if they disagreed with the practice. However, a new policy mandates that nurses must assist in the abortion procedure or else be fired.

The Alliance Defense Fund is representing the nurses in court.

“ADF is committed to defend the right of pro-life nurses not to be forced to assist in abortions against their beliefs,” said Matt Bowman of ADF on Tuesday.

Bowman also said that throughout the country there are other legal challenges to hospitals requiring medical personnel to assist in abortions even if they hold religious objections.

“ADF is currently litigating this case on behalf of a nurse at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York,” said Bowman, who added that his organization “successfully intervened on behalf of nursing applicants to a program at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.”

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The lawsuit, case name Danquah v. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, was filed in U.S. District Court on Monday.

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey declined to comment on the matter.