Mich. hospital, nurses settle discrimination suit
Mich. hospital, nurses settle lawsuit claiming facility honored man's race-based request
This frame grab provided by WJRT-TV shows Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Mich. The case of a white swastika-tattooed Michigan father insisting a black nurse at the hospital not be allowed to care for his newborn child highlights one of medicine’s “open secrets” _ allowing patients to refuse treatment by a doctor or nurse of another race. The nurse is noiw suing the hospital, claiming it bowed to his illegal demands. (AP Photo/Courtesy WJRT-TV) MANDATORY CREDIT: WJRT
DETROIT (AP) -- A Michigan hospital has settled a lawsuit that accused it of agreeing to a man's request that no black nurses care for his newborn.
Hurley Medical Center and four nurses who sued said Friday the lawsuit was "amicably resolved."
The Flint hospital says the conduct wasn't consistent with hospital policies and that it "fundamentally opposes" racial discrimination.
The suit was filed by nurse Tonya Battle, who alleged a note was posted on an assignment clipboard reading, "No African American nurse to take care of baby.
She says it was later removed, but that black nurses weren't assigned to the baby's care.
Battle and the hospital say the father showed Battle's supervisor a swastika tattoo.
The other three nurses recently joined the suit. A related lawsuit isn't part of the settlement.
