A Cleveland woman is claiming that she was denied a job in Ohio’s Metro Health System after she refused to get a flu vaccination on religious grounds.
According to a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, India Pouge was offered a job by Metro Health on January 18, but the offer was later revoked “because she requested a religious exemption from the flu shot.”
“Specifically, Plaintiff has strongly held Christian beliefs and believes in the Bible, which teaches that the flu vaccine, that has numerous additives and could be a mechanism for altering the body, is the equivalent of ‘unclean food’ that causes harm to the body,” says the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The lawsuit notes that Pouge is a member of the Zion Missionary Baptist Church and filled out a vaccine exemption request form, which included a “detailed letter explaining her religious beliefs and the reason for the requested exemption from her pastor.”
“Defendant discriminated against and refused to accommodate Plaintiff because of her sincerely held religious beliefs,” the lawsuit adds, stating that Metro Health “acted in conscious and/or reckless disregard for Plaintiff’s rights.”
It goes on to state that Metro Health “cannot offer a nondiscriminatory reason for its failure to hire Plaintiff and its recission of her job offer.”
Pouge is seeking no less than $75,000 in damages from Metro Health for the “emotional distress” caused by its actions and the loss of salary and benefits.
Metro Health has told local media that it can’t comment on the case, but provided a general statement to Fox 8 on its policy related to the flu vaccination.
“In order to protect patients and staff from preventable flu infections, the Metro Health System requires employees to get flu vaccinations. This includes applications,” the statement said, but noted that “there are exemptions for receiving the flu vaccine and they may be requested based on certain medical conditions or deeply held religious, ethical or moral beliefs.”
“Those seeking exemption for religious, ethical or moral beliefs are required to provide supporting documentation, which may include a personal statement explaining the belief and how it does not allow the influenza vaccine, a written letter by the individual’s religious leader detailing the religion’s tenants that are applicable, or statements by other witnesses or other documentation confirming the validity or history of the individual’s beliefs,” the statement concludes.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Metro Health” by Tim Evanson. CC BY-SA 2.0.
