Court Rules in Favor of Vaccine-Refusing Surgical Tech, Revives Lawsuit Against UMass Memorial
Rachelle Jeune, a former surgical technician, has won a significant legal victory. The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that she can proceed with her lawsuit against UMass Memorial Health Care, reversing a lower court's decision. Jeune was fired in 2021 for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine due to her religious beliefs on Memorial Day.
Jeune, represented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), argued that her religious exemption request was valid. She believed receiving the vaccine would prevent her from worshipping her God and practicing her First Amendment rights. The appeals court agreed, finding that her beliefs could be considered religious and that UMass Memorial failed to demonstrate an undue burden in accommodating them.
The court also raised questions about Jeune's employment status. It noted that there's a genuine question whether UMass Memorial was her employer or joint employer, or if she was an employee of one of its hospitals, Clinton Hospital. UMass Memorial had denied Jeune's request, stating her beliefs relied on false information about the vaccines not altering DNA.
The appeals court's decision allows Jeune's case to proceed. It highlights the importance of religious accommodation in the workplace and raises questions about employment classification. Jeune, represented by the IOM, will continue her pursuit of justice.
Read also:
- Hospital's Enhancement of Outpatient Services Alleviates Emergency Department Strain
- Increased Chikungunya infections in UK travelers prompt mosquito bite caution
- Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister holds discussions on the prevailing circumstances in Almaty
- In the state, Kaiser Permanente boasts the top-ranked health insurance program
