The former University of Michigan's head of the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion filed a lawsuit against the university claiming it demoted her after she submitted findings from a study suggesting that Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan Health System employees exhibited discriminatory behavior toward African American patients and their families, according to MLive.
According to a civil lawsuit filed against the university's board of regents, Carmen Green, MD, said she submitted preliminary findings to UMHS officials in 2014. Her findings indicated UMHS staff "disproportionately…reach[ed] for the phone to call security when confronted with Black visitors or patients that become emotional in UMHS emergency rooms…2.5 times more often. "
The complaint alleges university officials demoted Dr. Green from her administrative position in retaliation for the unsavory report findings. Dr. Green seeks in excess of $500,000 as compensation for the loss of her position, emotional distress and attorney fees.
The University of Michigan issued a statement stating that Dr. Green's dismissal had nothing to do with the results of the study, according to the article. University officials said Dr. Green's dismissal was the result of a 2014 climate assessment survey conducted by the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion. The survey allegedly found that Dr. Green had "repeatedly violated the U-M Health System's Code for Conduct and the university's Professional Standards for Faculty" in her interactions with her colleagues, according to the article.
University officials declined to comment on the results of Dr. Green's survey, stating that officials "lacked sufficient knowledge or information…regarding [Dr. Green's] data analysis, her conclusions, or plans for follow-up," according to the article.
Dr. Green is still currently employed by the university as a professor of anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology at the university's schools of medicine and public health.
The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial on Dec. 5.