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Hidden Dangers: How Healthcare Bias Puts LGBTQ+ People of Color at Risk

By Dansker & Aspromonte

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While there have been significant advances for people of color in the LGBTQ+ community, many people are still facing discrimination in healthcare settings based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Being able to go to the doctor when we are sick or injured is something most of us take for granted. Making routine wellness appointments for our children is no big deal for most Americans. Sadly, that’s not the case for all of us though.

In recent years, many studies, including one done by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, have shown that people of color in the LGBTQ+ community are far less likely to get proper treatment for physical and mental health ailments than the rest of us. In The State of Mental Health in LGBTQ Communities of Color, the HRC Foundation cites a lack of trust in the medical community and lack of health insurance as just two reasons why this is so.

Civil Rights March

Photo by Aiden Craver on Unsplash

Several studies have also found that people of color in the LGBTQ+ community who do manage to see healthcare providers are often treated unfairly. And that often has serious consequences. Take one participant in a 2021 study examining how healthcare biases affect Black, Indigenous (and) People of Color (BIPOC) patients in the LGBTQ+ community. Identifying as both BIPOC and LGBTQ+, “PT11” shared how doctors dismissed complaints of chronic knee pain for years.

“I was overweight but active, I complained about knee pain all the time, and doctors always said ‘lose weight,’” PT11 recalled. “Well, one time on vacation, I got injured and had to go get X-rays done on my knee. When the X-rays came back, the doctor was like ‘you have arthritis and also your kneecap is misaligned.’ My first reaction was ‘I’m not even 30 and I have arthritis?’ and then it was anger because I have been dismissed for like a decade.”

In this article, the legal team from Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP takes a comprehensive look at how healthcare biases can lead to personal injury for LGBTQ+ people of color.

What Is Intersectionality in Healthcare?

To fully understand how this happens, one must first understand an overarching concept, namely “intersectionality.”

The first use of this term is largely attributed to law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, who described it as a way of examining how various identities and methods of oppression — such as racism, sexism, and homophobia — operate as a whole. In other words, it helps us understand that a woman of color may face discrimination due not only to her race but also because of her gender. On a similar note, a transgender man of color may face discrimination based not only on his race but also on his gender identity.

Intersectional injustices occur in healthcare settings when providers don’t acknowledge that certain biases and/or systems of oppression are preventing them from delivering the best possible healthcare services to people of color in the LGBTQ+ community. Their failure to do so causes them to perpetuate the problem by continuing to engage in the same behavior.

Accordingly, the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index for 2024 reports that more than half of transgender or non-binary respondents experienced at least one type of mistreatment or other negative experiences with healthcare providers.

How Biases Affecting LGBTQ+ People of Color Are Manifested In Healthcare Settings

The 2021 study referenced above identified six different ways in which biases affecting LGBTQ+ people of color are manifested in U.S. healthcare settings. These are:

  1. Transactional care — this refers to an interaction in which the patient feels the healthcare provider is not invested in their well-being but strictly views the encounter as a job. Patients feel rushed, unseen, and unheard because the healthcare provider isn’t thorough; doesn’t address all of their medical concerns; and fails to fully inform the patient about diagnoses, treatments, or alternatives.
  2. Power imbalances — this pertains to interactions in which the patient felt unwelcome or intimidated based on the provider’s judgment that they were incapable of understanding medical information, identifying real medical concerns, or making the best medical decisions. This often leads to exclusion from the relevant decision-making process, the lack of any meaningful relationship between the provider and the patient, and dismissal of patients without any explanation about their condition or treatment.
  3. Improper communication — occurrences include verbal or non-verbal signals that the patient felt were uncomfortable, awkward, or inappropriate. These included but were not limited to negative comments or scolding, lack of eye contact, trying to leave while the patient was speaking, or using a judgmental tone.
  4. Unfair treatment — these are cases in which patients felt they were stereotyped and treated unjustly based on certain traits such as age, weight, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, and so on. Patients claimed this led to difficulty accessing tests, treatment, getting a diagnosis, or getting pain medication.
  5. Hidden or disguised bigotry — this occurs in cases where people of color in the LGBTQ+ community felt that healthcare providers had inherent biases against them based on certain conduct or behavior. This includes a lack of knowledge or awareness about how to talk or care for gender-diverse patients, and/or a lack of awareness about medical needs specific to people of color.

How U.S. Healthcare Biases Affect People Of Color In The LGBTQ+ Community

Ongoing subjection to these healthcare biases often causes people of color in the LGBTQ+ community to mistrust the healthcare system, and refrain from or put off seeking medical treatment. The HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index for 2024 reports that 1 in 5 LGBTQI+ adults postponed healthcare treatment due to disrespect or discrimination by healthcare providers.

This, in turn, may result in worsening ailments and self-medication. In some cases, patients will simply search for medical providers who will treat them better, even if they have to change their physical appearance as part of that process.

Vita, who identifies as Black, trans, nonbinary, mentally disabled, pansexual, demisexual, and femme, shared her thoughts in the 2021 article Improving Care of LGBTQ People of Color: Lessons from the Voices of Patients.

“One of the ways I think being a Black pansexual trans woman affects my hypertension directly is stress… I hadn’t had super high blood pressure until I came out….” Vita said. “It’s a mental exercise to leave the house now, you know, and to feel confident enough that you would get from point A to point B and back to point A safely… On a racial level, there’s a societal stigma that Black people aren’t intelligent… I’ve noticed a very real sense of entitlement in medical health professionals and mental health professionals around hypertension around STI [sexually transmitted infection] prevention…. ‘I’m a doctor. I know more than you, period. So, here’s what you’re going to take.’”

Reyna, who identifies as Latina and transsexual, also shared her thoughts in a sidebar accompanying the article published by AFT Health Care.

“I had a terrible accident, and I was just traumatized…. The [healthcare provider’s] receptionist looked at me and said, ‘How can I help you, sir?’ The pain went away, and the only thing that I had was anger. I was furious that this person decided to be so blatantly disrespectful to me in a time of need…. Some trans women don’t see a doctor until they’re practically dying,” Reyna said.”

A transgender woman quoted in an infographic accompanying the Executive Summary of the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index for 2024 shared a similar experience. In her case, she had gone to the doctor for “her first physical in years” when the incident occurred.

“When I walked toward the women’s bathroom in the waiting area, the receptionist jumped up and told me to use a McDonald’s restroom down the street,” she said. “I felt like leaving and never going back.”

 LGBTQ Rights March

Photo by Terry Hamlett on Unsplash

Self-Advocacy and Options For Legal Recourse

The key to self-advocacy in a healthcare setting is knowing your legal rights. These vary based on the circumstances.

Sponsored by the HRC and LGBT Healthlink, among others, the Healthcare Bill of Rights details basic rights that should be afforded to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. These are:

  • The right to be treated with respect and made to feel welcome no matter who you are.
  • The right to not be denied service or given inferior service.
  • The right to be called by your chosen name and gender pronoun and to include these preferences in your advance directive.
  • The right to use the gender-based facilities of your choice.
  • The right upon admission to certain medical facilities to be told how to create an advance directive – and the right to pick whoever you want to be your decision-maker.
  • The right to be visited by anyone you choose (regardless of your legal or biological relationship) at any reasonable time.
  • The right to ask the facility to show you the rule that prohibits that visitor if visitation is denied.
  • The right to the privacy of your medical records and care under a law known as HIPAA – the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
  • The right to protest being discharged from a hospital rehabilitation facility, assisted living facility, or nursing home.
  • The right to information concerning how you can appeal the discharge or transfer and to have time to figure out where you will go when you are discharged.

According to the HRC, federal regulations mandate that hospitals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs (which is most of them) have written policies and procedures regarding patients’ right to designate the visitors of their choice. Any such policies and procedures should include language barring discrimination in visitation based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The HRC also notes that all hospitals with Joint Commission accreditation (which is most of them) are legally barred from discriminating against patients based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There is a significant catch, however. The Joint Commission does not mandate that these hospitals have a written patient non-discrimination policy outlining their non-discrimination standards. Furthermore, The Joint Commission “does not have any specific requirements about the training of hospital staff regarding these policies or LGBTQ+ cultural competency.”

On April 26, 2024, several federal agencies issued a final rule under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), furthering protections against discrimination in healthcare. Of particular relevance here is that the final rule protects people of color in the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination. It does so by codifying that Section 1557’s prohibition against discrimination based on sex includes LGTBQI+ patients.

Options For Legal Recourse

If you are a person of color, identify as LGBTQ+, and believe a healthcare provider discriminated against you, you may be able to pursue legal recourse. The specific legal remedies available to you will depend upon the circumstances of your unique case.

For example, the HRC recommends following the hospital’s grievance procedure if discrimination occurred at a hospital. You can also file a complaint directly with The Joint Commission.

In some circumstances, you may also be able to file a civil rights complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). This is the federal law enforcement agency tasked with ensuring that certain healthcare and human services don’t discriminate against anyone based on their:

  • Race
  • Color
  • National origin (including primary language)
  • Disability
  • Age
  • Religion
  • Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity)

The New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program may also be able to help if the discrimination you experienced occurred at a nursing home or long-term care facility.

Helping Healthcare Providers Recognize Intersectional Injustices

The 2021 AFT Health Care article includes several recommendations aimed at helping healthcare providers recognize and combat intersectional injustices affecting LGBTQ+ people of color. These include but are not limited to:

  • Promoting compassion and understanding – specifically an understanding that your patient’s past experiences influence their current fears, concerns, and expectations.
  • Recognizing intersecting identities — acknowledging that people of color in the LGBTQ+ community have likely faced discrimination based on multiple identities (i.e., race/ethnicity, sexual orientation/gender identity) and acting accordingly.
  • Identifying individual and team biases — creating and engaging in activities with patients from the LGBTQ+ BIPOC community to promote a better understanding of how to deliver effective healthcare services.
  • Learning and using effective communication techniques — this includes the use of neutral language and proper terminology.

According to a recent article published on the-hospitalist.org, several doctors have teamed up to create a “Gender Inclusive Care Toolkit for Hospitals.” This includes several resources and guidelines designed to facilitate the recognition of inherent biases in healthcare settings. Its creators say it can be used in healthcare settings ranging from large hospitals to local practices.

Groups that also promote healthcare equity include the Alliance for Positive Health, the GLMA in partnership with the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and the National LGBTQ Task Force. Boston-based Fenway Health caters to LGBTQ+ patients, including people of color, from Massachusetts and other states. In addition to serving patients directly, Fenway Health also does research and provides education and training to improve the care of LGBTQ people.

The Bottom Line

Those of us who have never experienced discrimination in healthcare probably don’t think about those who do. If we did give it some thought, we would quickly realize how lucky we are. Because the bottom line is that intersectional injustices in healthcare happen way too often in the United States. When they do, people of color in the LGBTQ+ population are frequently victims.

As these patients attest, they face discrimination in healthcare settings based not only on their race or ethnicity but also on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This results in greater mistrust of the medical community, avoidance, and/or delayed treatment. In worst-case scenarios, this, in turn, leads to worsening health conditions and poor outcomes.

The good news is that many efforts to promote equity in healthcare are ongoing. Let’s just hope there will soon be a time when they are no longer needed.

Additional Resources

Inclusive Healthcare=

Advocacy

Resources Specific To Communities Of Color

Featured image: by: Harry Quan/ Unsplash

 

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Un joven chino con discapacidad de desarrollo de 21 años caminaba con algunos amigos después de la escuela cuando salió al cruce de peatones contra la luz y un autobús de la ciudad que estaba girando demasiado cerca de la esquina lo golpeó.
Un ayudante de camarero de 20 años fue atropellado por un automóvil en Ocean Parkway en Brooklyn, lo que lo dejó en coma y con graves lesiones cerebrales.
Esta contable caminaba después del trabajo en Battery Park en el paseo peatonal cuando de repente fue golpeada por una motoneta de la policía que iba a gran velocidad.
Una pasante de teatro de 22 años caminaba por la intersección de la calle 42 y la Novena Avenida en Manhattan cuando fue golpeada por la puerta trasera de un camión que pasaba cuando la puerta abrio volando porque no había sido asegurado correctamente por el conductor.
La Sra. Y-H, pasajera en un tren del metro que descarriló.
Un ayudante de camarero de 20 años fue atropellado por un automóvil en Ocean Parkway en Brooklyn.
Un repartidor en bicicleta de 26 años fue golpeado por una camioneta Dollar Rent-A-Car que iba a gran velocidad en una intersección concurrida, causando múltiples fracturas en el cuello, espalda, brazo y pierna, así como daños cerebrales leves.
Christian, un niño de 4 años, fue llevado al hospital para una reparación rutinaria de párpados caídos. El hospital, en una medida de reducción de costos, había contratado sus servicios de anestesia en quirófano a una corporación que empleaba principalmente enfermeras anestesistas en lugar de médicos capacitados para administrar anestesia.
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Un joven chino con discapacidad de desarrollo de 21 años caminaba con algunos amigos después de la escuela cuando salió al cruce de peatones contra la luz y un autobús de la ciudad que estaba girando demasiado cerca de la esquina lo golpeó.
La Sra. Y-H era una pasajera en un tren del metro que descarriló.
Un ayudante de camarero de 20 años fue atropellado por un automóvil en Ocean Parkway en Brooklyn, sufriendo lesiones graves, incluyendo un coma. Aunque es un caso de peatón, el incidente involucra un vehículo y demuestra la experiencia de la firma en manejar accidentes graves de tránsito.
A pesar del hecho de que este caso fue referido a Dansker & Aspromonte LLP Associates por otro abogado 17 años después de que ocurriera el accidente, se obtuvo un veredicto impresionante a través de una investigación cuidadosa y una preparación incansable.
En uno de los casos más trágicos que ha visto esta oficina, dos madres y sus cuatro adolescentes conducían a una reunión de natación de la escuela secundaria en el New York State Thruway en una camioneta.
Este caso involucró a una niña de 6 años que estaba en una camioneta que fue golpeada por una ambulancia en un choque de varios autos en el Northern State Parkway en Long Island, Nueva York.
Una oficial de la Policía de la Ciudad de Nueva York de 35 años sufrió lesiones graves mientras era pasajera en un automóvil policial en camino a una llamada de emergencia.
Un carpintero de 46 años cayó de una escalera que resbaló en el sitio de trabajo, lo que le causó lesiones significativas. Este caso ilustra la experiencia de la firma en accidentes de equipo defectuoso en entornos de construcción.
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Un inmigrante mexicano sin documentación cayó 30 pies desde un andamio en un sitio de construcción, sufriendo lesiones graves al impactar contra el cemento. Este caso demuestra la experiencia de la firma en caídas en el lugar de trabajo, comunes en la construcción.
Un trabajador de construcción sufrió fracturas en el hombro, clavícula, costillas y cadera, además de lesiones internas que requirieron múltiples cirugías. Este caso destaca la habilidad de la firma para manejar lesiones graves en el lugar de trabajo.
Baby S was born with a congenital hip dislocation which was not anyone’s fault. However, malpractice occurred when the doctors and hospital did not recognize the condition after she was born. Their failure to diagnose and properly treat the condition resulted in a slight but permanent deformity.
Julio, 16, was an outpatient at the Manhattan Children’s Psychiatric Hospital where he attended school and got psychiatric counseling and supportive therapy every day. The NYC Board of Ed operated the school. One day after school, Julio ran after his bus, which was leaving without him. He slipped and was run over by the back wheels, sustaining severe injuries, including bilateral hip fractures and a shearing injury to his buttocks. Board of Ed rules required that Julio was to be escorted to the bus. The NYCTA denied liability, claiming they weren’t negligent because Julio ran after the bus. The City denied liability because they claimed the school day was over. At trial, both the Board of Ed who had knowledge of Julio’s poor impulse control and was required to put him safely on the bus, and the NYCTA whose bus driver saw Julio running and made no effort to slow or stop the bus were found to be responsible.
Baby Taylor C. – Taylor’s mother had gained over 50 pounds during the pregnancy, was past due, and had a prolonged first stage and second stage of delivery. These are warning signs of an overly large baby. Baby Taylor was 9 lbs. 13 oz. Instead of delivery by C-section, which was clearly indicated, the attending physician elected a natural birth. When the baby was stuck in the pelvic area, excessive force was used to pull her out, injuring the nerves in her neck and causing partial paralysis of her left arm. The condition is known as Erbs Palsy. The case was settled during the trial. Fortunately, Baby Taylor’s injury improved over time.
Ayisha W- A young girl slid down a sliding pond in the playground of an NYC school. The slide was not installed properly and there was a gap between the metal on the side of the slide. As Ayisha slid down, her ring finger went into the gap and the top of it was cut off. The City argued that since it was just the tip of her finger it was not worth much money. At trial, it was proved that Ayisha had a devastating emotional reaction that affected every aspect of her life and self-esteem. The jury agreed.
A 46-year-old carpenter was working on a straight ladder which had been leaned against the wall on a jobsite. He fell when the ladder slipped away from the wall. As a result, he suffered facial injuries and a fractured knee that required surgery. The property owner and general contractor were found to be responsible because Jian S. should have been provided with a more suitable A-frame ladder or scaffolding.
A 30-year-old carpenter who was working at a job site in a retail store fell from a ladder onto both feet. He suffered bilateral calcaneus fractures requiring multiple surgeries.
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Following a 4- story fall, a construction worker at a West 17th Street construction site in Manhattan recently won a $5.5 million dollar settlement from the general contractor and building owner for failing to provide him with a safe workplace. Defendants had argued that the fall was the result of the 56 year old construction worker’s own carelessness but Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP lawyers were able to prove otherwise. As a result of his fall, the construction worker suffered fractures of his shoulder, clavicle, ribs and hip, as well as internal injuries which required multiple surgeries. These injuries required home care which was primarily provided by his wife who also received a payment of $500,000 as part of the settlement. To minimize their own responsibility, the general contractor and building owner claimed that the worker had made an excellent recovery when he had not. In order to prove the case, Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP retained 5 separate experts to illustrate the full extent of the worker’s injuries and the disabling effect they would have over the course of his life.
Maria, a housekeeper, was walking across Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn in the crosswalk when she was struck by a school bus and thrown over 25 feet. She sustained severe injuries, including multiple fractures. The bus driver claimed that he had a green light and was travelling at a safe speed. Unfortunately, Mrs. S. could not recall any of the facts of the accident. Our investigator combed the area for witnesses. He found a woman who lived on the sixth floor of an adjacent apartment building. Although she didn’t see the accident, she happened to look out her window and saw Maria’s body lying in the roadway down the street. Using this testimony, our accident reconstruction expert was able to prove that the bus had to be speeding to knock Maria that far from the crosswalk. The case was settled immediately after that testimony.
Our client was a married NYC Parks Department employee. On a snowy night in Staten Island, he was preparing his truck to spread salt on the roadways. He drove the spreader truck to the salt storage yard. As he waited alongside his truck, the operator of a front loader truck used to place the salt in the spreader lost control of the loading bucket. Sadly, he was struck by the bucket, suffered massive injuries and died in the hospital several hours later.
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Following a 4- story fall, a construction worker at a West 17th Street construction site in Manhattan recently won a $5.5 million dollar settlement from the general contractor and building owner for failing to provide him with a safe workplace. Defendants had argued that the fall was the result of the 56 year old construction worker’s own carelessness but Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP lawyers were able to prove otherwise. As a result of his fall, the construction worker suffered fractures of his shoulder, clavicle, ribs and hip, as well as internal injuries which required multiple surgeries. These injuries required home care which was primarily provided by his wife who also received a payment of $500,000 as part of the settlement. To minimize their own responsibility, the general contractor and building owner claimed that the worker had made an excellent recovery when he had not. In order to prove the case, Dansker & Aspromonte Associates LLP retained 5 separate experts to illustrate the full extent of the worker’s injuries and the disabling effect they would have over the course of his life.
Un trabajador de construcción de 50 años estaba montando su bicicleta cuando cayó debido a un defecto en la carretera y sufrió pequeñas fracturas y daños cognitivos leves.
Un trabajador de mantenimiento de 31 años golpeó un sensor de presión de control de tráfico de la ciudad de Nueva York mientras montaba su bicicleta. Debido a un mal mantenimiento del sensor, el trabajador sufrió lesiones graves.
Una mujer y su novio estaban andando en bicicleta cuando entraron en un sitio de excavación sin protección en una zona completamente oscura bajo un paso elevado. La bicicleta de Rhonda cayó en un pozo y su cara se estrelló contra la carretera.
Un repartidor en bicicleta de 26 años fue golpeado por una camioneta Dollar Rent-A-Car que iba a gran velocidad en una intersección concurrida, causando múltiples fracturas en el cuello, espalda, brazo y pierna, así como daños cerebrales leves.
La madre de Taylor había subido más de 50 libras durante el embarazo, estaba atrasada, y tuvo una prolongada primera y segunda etapa del parto.
Una joven madre china por primera vez resultó herida debido a la negligencia médica de los médicos y el personal de lo que entonces era el Hospital Beekman Downtown.
Un bombero de 42 años, que antes había corrido más de 30 maratones, se cortó la pierna mientras luchaba contra un incendio.
Christian, un niño de 4 años, fue llevado al hospital para una reparación rutinaria de párpados caídos. El hospital, en una medida de reducción de costos, había contratado sus servicios de anestesia en quirófano a una corporación que empleaba principalmente enfermeras anestesistas en lugar de médicos capacitados para administrar anestesia.
Un guardia de seguridad resbaló en una superficie helada frente a un edificio propiedad de Metropolitan Life, lo que le causó una fractura de rodilla.
Una asistente de salud en el hogar de 56 años tropezó con un cable expuesto que se extendía desde una cabina telefónica en la plataforma del metro, resultando en una lesión que requirió un reemplazo de rodilla.
Un conductor de servicio se bajó de su vehículo para recoger dinero en el carril de un Burger King cuando cayó a través de una rejilla de alcantarillado rota, resultando en una caída de 4 pies y lesiones significativas.
Un trabajador de construcción indocumentado cayó desde un andamio a 30 pies de altura, impactando contra el cemento y sufriendo lesiones graves. Este caso muestra la experiencia de la firma en caídas graves en el trabajo, que se relacionan con incidentes de resbalones y caídas en entornos peligrosos.
Un niño de 16 años fue atropellado por un camión que estaba retrocediendo lentamente y quedó atrapado contra una pared, sufriendo una grave laceración en el bazo, que tuvo que ser removido.
Adjudicado al cónyuge. El Sr. S. era un empleado casado del Departamento de Parques de Nueva York. En una noche nevada en Staten Island, estaba preparando su camión para esparcir sal en las carreteras
En uno de los casos más trágicos que ha visto esta oficina, dos madres y sus cuatro adolescentes conducían a una reunión de natación de la escuela secundaria en el New York State Thruway en una camioneta.
Una pasante de teatro de 22 años caminaba por la intersección de la calle 42 y la Novena Avenida en Manhattan cuando fue golpeada por la puerta trasera de un camión que pasaba cuando la puerta abrio volando porque no había sido asegurado correctamente por el conductor.
Adjudicado al cónyuge. El Sr. S. era un empleado casado del Departamento de Parques de Nueva York. En una noche nevada en Staten Island, estaba preparando su camión para esparcir sal en las carreteras
Adjudicado a la familia. Un hombre de 49 años cayó por el hueco de un ascensor cuando las puertas del ascensor se abrieron, pero la cabina del ascensor estaba en un piso superior.
En uno de los casos más trágicos que ha visto esta oficina, dos madres y sus cuatro adolescentes conducían a una reunión de natación de la escuela secundaria en el New York State Thruway en una camioneta.
Este accidente ocurrió en el Bronx cuando Rafael C. estaba trabajando en un camión de saneamiento. El conductor perdió el control al girar el vehículo.
Una pasante de teatro de 22 años caminaba por la intersección de la calle 42 y la Novena Avenida en Manhattan cuando fue golpeada por la puerta trasera de un camión que pasaba cuando la puerta abrio volando porque no había sido asegurado correctamente por el conductor.Una pasante de teatro de 22 años caminaba por la intersección de la calle 42 y la Novena Avenida en Manhattan cuando fue golpeada por la puerta trasera de un camión que pasaba cuando la puerta abrio volando porque no había sido asegurado correctamente por el conductor.
En uno de los casos más trágicos que ha visto esta oficina, dos madres y sus cuatro adolescentes conducían a una reunión de natación de la escuela secundaria en el New York State Thruway en una camioneta.
Un bombero de 42 años, que antes había corrido más de 30 maratones, se cortó la pierna mientras luchaba contra un incendio.
Un Oficial de la Policía de la Ciudad de Nueva York de 35 años era una pasajera en un automóvil de la policía que iba a una llamada de emergencia.
An undocumented Mexican immigrant working on scaffolding at a construction site fell 30 feet onto the cement. He fractured his skull and vertebrae in his neck and back. It was shown at trial that the company he worked for failed to provide him with a safety line, which would have prevented his fall.
Julio, 16, was an outpatient at the Manhattan Children’s Psychiatric Hospital where he attended school and got psychiatric counseling and supportive therapy every day. The NYC Board of Ed operated the school. One day after school, Julio ran after his bus, which was leaving without him. He slipped and was run over by the back wheels, sustaining severe injuries, including bilateral hip fractures and a shearing injury to his buttocks. Board of Ed rules required that Julio was to be escorted to the bus. The NYCTA denied liability, claiming they weren’t negligent because Julio ran after the bus. The City denied liability because they claimed the school day was over. At trial, both the Board of Ed who had knowledge of Julio’s poor impulse control and was required to put him safely on the bus, and the NYCTA whose bus driver saw Julio running and made no effort to slow or stop the bus were found to be responsible.
Baby Taylor C. – Taylor’s mother had gained over 50 pounds during the pregnancy, was past due, and had a prolonged first stage and second stage of delivery. These are warning signs of an overly large baby. Baby Taylor was 9 lbs. 13 oz. Instead of delivery by C-section, which was clearly indicated, the attending physician elected a natural birth. When the baby was stuck in the pelvic area, excessive force was used to pull her out, injuring the nerves in her neck and causing partial paralysis of her left arm. The condition is known as Erbs Palsy. The case was settled during the trial. Fortunately, Baby Taylor’s injury improved over time.
Ayisha W- A young girl slid down a sliding pond in the playground of an NYC school. The slide was not installed properly and there was a gap between the metal on the side of the slide. As Ayisha slid down, her ring finger went into the gap and the top of it was cut off. The City argued that since it was just the tip of her finger it was not worth much money. At trial, it was proved that Ayisha had a devastating emotional reaction that affected every aspect of her life and self-esteem. The jury agreed.