A Michigan hospital has agreed to pay $410,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Valerie Kloosterman, a physician assistant. She claimed dismissal for refusing to comply with workplace policies about transgender patients, due to her faith convictions. This information comes from court filings and statements from involved parties.
Kloosterman sued University of Michigan Health-West after being terminated in August 2021. In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, she expressed a desire to deliver excellent care without compromising her Christian beliefs.
All I wanted to do was provide the best care possible to my patients without being forced to violate my Christian beliefs.
First Liberty Institute, representing Kloosterman, highlighted her positive performance reviews before her objections arose. These objections were against mandatory gender identity training. The organization stated Kloosterman was fired three weeks after seeking a religious accommodation to avoid this training.
According to First Liberty Institute, University of Michigan Health-West did not attempt to accommodate her beliefs. They initiated legal action in October 2022.
The lawsuit also describes a meeting with hospital officials where they criticized her religious beliefs, labeling her as “evil” and a “liar.” They prohibited bringing her Christian beliefs into the workplace and blamed her for contributing to suicides among those with gender dysphoria.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
The settlement requires UMHW to implement a religious accommodation policy that aligns with the law. It mandates informing and training all employees to provide reasonable accommodations for religious requests without retribution. Kloosterman and her attorneys are to receive $410,000 in damages and fees.
This new policy ensures that providers of faith and employees at UMHW will receive religious accommodations so that they can provide excellent care consistent with their medical judgment, because all patients are created in the image of God.
Kloosterman stated that the policy would allow faith-based providers to deliver top-notch care while honoring their medical judgment.
First Liberty counsel Kayla Toney emphasized that Title VII prohibits faith-based discrimination and punishment in workplaces. According to her statement to Fox News Digital, “Valerie is an exceptional physician assistant who cares for each of her patients. Employers cannot drive out people like Valerie just because of their sincere religious beliefs. We are grateful to have resolved this matter with University of Michigan Health-West.”
Fox News Digital reached out to University of Michigan Health-West for a comment.
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