Bronx Medical Center Sued Under ADA


UCHC

A Bronx medical center is facing legal troubles after a federal lawsuit was filed against it on July 29 over complaints that it fails to treat people with disabilities. The suit against Union Community Health Center cites numerous architectural barriers, inaccessible medical equipment, and problems with untrained staff that fail to adequately assist wheelchair users — often even turning them away.

“This is an issue of a full service comprehensive medical center that prides itself on serving the community around it,” says Michelle Caiola, senior staff attorney for Disability Rights Advocates. “To have these barriers and not treat those with disabilities on an equal basis as anyone else who wants to walk in and use the facilities is a problem.“

Disability Rights Advocates brought the lawsuit against the UCHC. on behalf of Bronx Independent Living Services and individuals with disabilities Caiola says these egregious violations not only degrade the quality of care received by people with disabilities at UCHC but it endangers their health.

Brett Eisenberg, BILS executive director and plaintiff in the suit, uses a power wheelchair because of osteogenesis imperfecta. He says getting care at the center is a safety risk and that the plaintiffs have tried working with UCHC to remedy the situation to no avail. Eisenberg just wants to be treated fairly. “We just want them to be accessible for us and other individuals with disabilities so everyone can use their services,“ he says.

Caiola is troubled these issues are still occurring years after passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “These facilities have 25 years to bring themselves into compliance and they should certainly know the law,” she says. “That they’re still functioning in this way that doesn’t provide equal access to people with disabilities is really disheartening.”


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