Federal authorities are investigating a large health system in Michigan on allegations that the organization dismissed an employee who wanted to avoid calling patients by their favorite pronouns and participating in procedures related to “modification of sexual traits”.
The employee would have asked membership to refrain from participating in these practices, in which she opposed because of her religious beliefs, according to a press release published on Friday by the United States Ministry of Health and Social Services for Civil Rights.
The agency has not identified the health system involved in the probe.
“The OCR is committed to applying federal laws on conscience in health care,” said Paula Mr. Stannard, director of the OCR, in a statement. “Health agents should be able to practice both their professions and their faith.”
The laws on the protection of consciousness, collectively known under the name of “church changes”, guarantee that individuals, health care entities and providers are immune to discrimination in health care by the government or entities funded by the government according to the exercise of religious beliefs or moral condemnations, the press release said.
Federal officials will investigate whether the employee has been dismissed for exercising his rights protected by the federal government by asking to use only pronouns that align themselves with patients ‘sexual relations and not to help procedures affecting patients’ sexual features.
HHS said this investigation is the third during the current mandate of Donald Trump as president focused on determining the conformity of an entity to the laws that protected the rights of conscience of health professionals.
“Today’s announcement is part of a greater effort to strengthen the application of laws protecting consciousness and religious exercise,” the agency said in the press release.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com