FLINT -- A nurse is accusing Hurley Medical Center of race discrimination and is seeking damages.
She states in her complaint that she was reassigned after a patient's father requested that no African-American nurse care for his child.
The plaintiff is a 25-year employee of Hurley Medical Center and was assigned to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the time of the incident.
She states she was caring for an infant in the NICU last October, when the infant's father told her supervisor that he didn't want any African-Americans taking care of his baby.
According to the complaint, the nurse supervisor reassigned the plaintiff, who later learned a note was prominently posted on the assignment clipboard that read, "No African-American nurse to take care of baby."
“It made her feel horrible," the nurses attorney, Julie Gafkay, said.
Gafkay added, “The problem that my client has is not necessarily that the request was made. People will have their prejudices and biases. The problem is the hospital actually granted the request."
The suit was filed at the end of January. The nurse is still employed in the NICU.
Hurley Medical Center released this statement in response: “The hospital does not comment on past or current litigation.”
