Ex-Employee Sues Michigan Hospital for Religious Discrimination Regarding Stance on Transgender Patient Treatment
First Liberty Institute filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a physician assistant who was fired in 2021 from University of Michigan Health-West after she sought a religious exemption from referring patients for sex-reassignment surgeries and hormone interventions.
According to a Wednesday press release from First Liberty Institute, Valerie Kloosterman worked at Michigan Health for 17 years.
“Valerie provides excellent medical care for everyone, but she cannot in good conscience use biology-obscuring pronouns or refer patients for experimental drugs and procedures that violate her religious convictions and her medical judgment,” Kayla Toney, First Liberty associate counsel, told The Daily Signal. “She treated all of her patients with respect and compassion and simply asked that Michigan Health respect her religious beliefs. She should not be forced to choose between her faith and her livelihood.”
