The Trump administration is under pressure to investigate Henry Ford Health over allegations of discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.
Key Takeaways
- Henry Ford Health is accused of race and gender-based discrimination in hiring and medical procedures.
- America First Legal has filed a complaint regarding these practices with the Department of Health and Human Services.
- The complaint suggests Henry Ford Health used federal funds to support DEI initiatives, allegedly violating civil rights laws.
- Consumers’ Research accuses Henry Ford Health of prioritizing politics over patient care.
Allegations Against Henry Ford Health
America First Legal, a pro-Trump legal organization, filed a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) against Henry Ford Health (HFH) concerning its DEI practices. The complaint accuses HFH of employing race and gender as criteria in hiring, residency programs, and patient services. AFL alleges these practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, both of which forbid discrimination based on race and gender.
The complaint claims HFH has utilized nearly $1 billion in federal funding since 2021 to support its DEI initiatives. Allegedly, this includes implementing racial quotas in hiring and prioritizing organ transplants based on race. Concerns have also been raised about contracts being awarded based on race and gender, undermining merit-based opportunities in the healthcare sector.
Political Overtones and Patient Care
Critics, including Consumers’ Research, argue that Henry Ford Health is prioritizing political narratives over patient care. They particularly highlight the prioritization of DEI policies and potential impacts on healthcare quality for minors, especially those undergoing transgender treatments. Critics urge a thorough examination of these practices and call for appropriate policy adjustments to ensure patient care and prioritization over political agendas.
“Failure to act in the face of such egregious and well-documented violations would not only signal tolerance of unlawful discrimination but would undermine the federal government’s duty to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to advance unconstitutional or ideologically driven practices,” stated America First Legal.
The scrutiny on Henry Ford Health isn’t isolated. Other institutions, like Johns Hopkins University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, are under federal investigation for similarly alleged discriminatory DEI practices, reinforcing the need for oversight in how DEI policies are framed and enforced in the healthcare sector.
Federal Enforcement and Potential Outcomes
Investigations have been spurred by complaints from advocacy groups like the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), working with Do No Harm (DNH). These groups highlight the necessity for a merit-based approach, unencumbered by DEI quotas and biases, for medical professionals and students. The investigations are part of a broader federal initiative to scrutinize DEI practices across various sectors, emphasizing compliance with civil rights laws and ethical medical practices.
“Today’s actions restore merit-based opportunities in medicine and signify that hard-working health care professionals and high-achieving students in the pipeline for medical and nursing fields should not be demeaned at work, or excluded from professional or scholarship opportunities, because of their race or sex,” said Anthony Archeval, Acting Director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS.
If HFH or any institution is found non-compliant with anti-discrimination laws, consequences could include suspension or termination of federal funding. The case against HFH thus adds to the ongoing discourse about the role of DEI in healthcare, balancing inclusion with equity and effectiveness in patient care and medical education.
