Black health workers lose appeal over treating white patient

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — An appeals court has upheld a decision that kills a discrimination lawsuit filed by black home health care workers who were told they couldn’t take care of a white patient.

The court recently agreed with a Grand Rapids federal judge who said the women waited too long to file a lawsuit against Spectrum Health.

Judge Robert Holmes Bell also found that the women couldn’t demonstrate a “long-standing ... policy of discrimination” that would let the case go forward.
The women are two certified nursing assistants and a home health aide.

They were assigned to provide care to a white man who suffered from brain injuries. But in spring 2012, the patient’s guardian told Spectrum Health that no black employees should be assigned to the man.