Fired hospital manager wins ruling over whistleblower law

ALMA (AP) — A central Michigan hospital has lost a state Supreme Court appeal in a dispute over an employee’s firing and the state’s whistleblower law.

Tammy McNeil-Marks was fired in 2014 as a clinical manager at MidMichigan Medical Center in Alma. The hospital said she violated privacy rules when she told her lawyer about a patient in the hospital.

McNeil-Marks said she was concerned about her safety because she had a personal protection order against the woman. The appeals court said her call to her lawyer qualified as a report to a public body under the whistleblower law.

The state Supreme Court heard arguments last year. The court said recently it won’t upset that decision.