Black Nurse Sues Hospital for Honoring Racist Dad's Request

In Flint, Michigan, a Black nurse is suing the hospital where she works for submitting to a request from a father that his child, who was in the NICU, not be cared for by any African-American nurses. After the nurse, Tonya Battle, introduced herself to the family has the child's nurse, the father reportedly asked to speak to her manager. He allegedly showed the charge nurse a swastika tattoo and made the request, which was then documented on the child's chart. She is suing for emotional damage and humiliation.

For the father to make such a request is fine: that's his business; however, for the hospital to honor such a demand is asinine. Yeah, you can argue that he has a right to demand who can care for his child, but it is the hospital's responsibility to make sure the child gets the best care and that their employees are treated fairly, and to submit to the discrimination of its employees is just irresponsible.

I have been reading some of the comments in the above link, and some have made comments of how the man was justified because they had experiences with African-American nurses having an attitude, or how they are not as competent as others. One even said that professors don't give Blacks failing grades because we will play the race card! Let me tell you something: it has been said but at least one of my former pharmacy school classmates that certain Blacks in our class only got into pharmacy school because of Affirmative Action. If that is so, then why is it that the four Blacks in the class all graduated on time (with two even having babies while in school) and with honors?! And don't tell me the professors were scared to give us failing grades because of our race. In that case, there would have been no way we could have passed our board exams!

I have also been discriminated against as a healthcare professional because of my race when I worked in the retail setting. I know that people get discriminated against every day for a number of reasons; however, to be discriminated against because of race is a delicate issue because of America's history with racism. It is also unfair to use race as a a factor to judge someone on because race is something that cannot be changed--someone can't help that they are the race that they are. It's not about simply "hurting someone's feelings," it is deeper than that. If you have ever experienced racism you would understand.

The hospital shouldn't have allowed discrimination to go on. They should have brought the situation up to Ms. Battle and the other Black woman and let them have a choice in the matter instead of sequestering them away from the child. Mr. Racist needs to realize that there are different people all around him. One day, someone of a different race is going to care for him or help him in some way, and he really won't have a choice in the matter. I wish I could say that I didn't want to deal with White people (not really, but just for argument sake). I know that would be impossible because they will always be around.

I think that Ms. Battle has a right to sue. What do you think?