A hospital in Michigan has agreed to a $410,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by a physician assistant. The assistant claimed she was terminated for not complying with policies related to transgender patients due to her faith.
Valerie Kloosterman, the physician assistant, was terminated by University of Michigan Health-West in August 2021. In her statement, Kloosterman expressed her desire to provide quality 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,” Kloosterman said.
Represented by First Liberty Institute, Kloosterman had received favorable performance reviews prior to her faith-based objections. The objections were aimed at mandatory gender identity training, which conflicted with her beliefs.
The legal organization reported that University of Michigan Health-West took no steps to accommodate her religious beliefs. Kloosterman was terminated three weeks after requesting an exemption from completing the training, leading her to file a lawsuit in October 2022.
The lawsuit described a meeting where hospital officials allegedly disparaged her religious views, labeling her as “evil” and a “liar.” They reportedly prohibited her from expressing her Christian beliefs at work, accusing her of contributing to suicides among gender dysphoria patients.
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The settlement includes creating a policy for religious accommodations that aligns with legal standards. The policy will ensure religious accommodations are granted without penalties. UMHW will also train employees on the new policy, with damages and fees paid to Kloosterman and her legal team.
“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,” Kloosterman stated.
Kayla Toney, counsel at First Liberty, highlighted the protections under Title VII against discrimination based on faith. She commended Kloosterman’s dedication to patient care despite the challenges faced due to her beliefs.
“Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating against and punishing employees for their faith,” Toney said. “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.”
Fox News Digital reached out to University of Michigan Health-West for comments on the settlement.
Rachel del Guidice, a culture reporter for Fox News, covers topics at the intersection of politics, faith, family, and American culture.