Union Files Lawsuit Against California Hospital for Irresponsibly Facilitating Spread of COVID-19
A union representing 1,190 employees at Riverside Community Hospital in California recently filed a case against the facility claiming that it irresponsibly facilitated the spread of COVID-19, increasing the number of patients, visitors, and employees infected.
A union that represents 1,190 employees at Riverside Community Hospital in California has filed a lawsuit against the hospital claiming that it irresponsibly facilitated the spread of COVID-19, increasing the possibility of infecting patients, visitors, and employees.
Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West yesterday, filed the complaint in the Superior Court of California in Riverside County. The lawsuit also named the parent of the hospital company, the NCA Healthcare, based in Nashville, Tennessee.
The complainants comprise three workers of the hospital who had COVID-19 and the daughter of one of its employees who died from the illness.
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Union Alleges Hospital Did Not Comply with CDC Guidelines
According to Gladys Reyes, one of the complainants, as healthcare workers, they are aware that they are in more danger in a hospital environment where they are working close to patients who are suffering from the infectious disease.
However, the hospital, including its parent company, did not comply with the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and apparently did not care about the safety of both the employees and patients.
In a news release, Reyes, a laboratory assistant and phlebotomist at the hospital, also said that last month, she was told she did not need another COVID-19 test before going back to work, although she was still experiencing symptoms. She said she took the test anyway, and the result was positive.
Union's Allegations
The suit asserts that the hospital, as well as the policies and practices of the HCA, considerably contributed to the creation of an actionable public nuisance under the law, resulting in significant life-threatening dangers to the health and safety not just of patients, but visitors and the whole community, as well.
The union's allegations include necessitating the employees to work with a lack of optimum personal protective equipment or PPE, obliging ill employees to work even if they have symptoms associated with COVID-19, and forcing workers "not to take reasonable and necessary precautions" against COVID-19.
In response to the complaint, Riverside Community Hospital issued a statement highlighting its safety initiatives for the workers' protection.
The statement indicated that since the first day, the hospital's top priority has been to protect the workers and keep them employed to provide the best care to their patients.
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Hospital's Response to the Lawsuit
The hospital also said that its safety initiatives had comprised employee testing, general mask-wearing, and other protective actions consistent with the guidance from the CDC.
The statement also specified that the hospital is proud of its response, as well as the substantial resources it has already deployed to keep everyone working there safe.
The hospital said in the statement that the lawsuit is an initiative for the union to "gain publicity," and it strongly defended itself against it.
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West or SEIU-UHW is among the largest hospital workers unions in the United States, having close to 100,000 members.
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Aug 20, 2020 10:23 PM EDT
