In the Courts: Employment Law: Race-Matching Patient Assignments Violates Civil Rights Act

​The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, has ruled that a hospital discriminated against an African American nurse when it refused to allow her to care for a patient based solely on the color of her skin.

The patient, an elderly Hispanic female, was admitted to the defendant hospital for treatment of injuries sustained when she was mugged by an African American male. Upon her transfer to the acute rehabilitation unit, the hospital directed that the patient should not be treated by "African Americans or other dark-skinned people." This directive was enforced with a sign on the door to the patient's room instructing all staff (e.g., dietary aides, nurses, physical therapy staff) to...