Judge rules in favor of Houston hospital requiring employees to be vaccinated
A lawsuit opposing the Houston Methodist Hospital network’s mandate that employees must get the COVID-19 vaccine has been shot down at the federal level.
A U.S. District judge on Saturday tossed the lawsuit from employees of the Texas hospital system who argue they shouldn’t be required to get vaccinated.
The dismissal comes after 178 staffers who declined to get the vaccine were suspended by Houston Methodist, which had instituted a June 7 deadline for employees to receive the shots.
A claim made by the lawsuit’s lead plaintiff, Jennifer Bridges, describing the vaccines as “experimental and dangerous” was refuted by the judge.
“Bridges can freely choose to accept or refuse a COVID-19 vaccine; however, if she refuses, she will simply need to work somewhere else,” said District Judge Lynn Hughes.
“If a worker refuses an assignment, changed office, earlier start time, or other directive, he may be properly fired. Every employment includes limits on the worker’s behavior in exchange for remuneration. That is all part of the bargain.”
Some Houston Methodist employees received exemptions or deferments for the vaccine due to medical reasons, pregnancy or religion.
Last week, the CEO of Houston Methodist said 27 suspended employees had received the first dose of a COVID vaccine. They will keep their jobs if they become fully vaccinated, he said.
A lawyer for the employees opposing the vaccine requirement said the staffers are “committed to fighting this unjust policy.”
“What is shocking is that many of my clients were on the front line treating COVID-positive patients at Texas Methodist Hospital during the height of the pandemic,” Jared Woodfill said.
“As a result, many of them contracted COVID-19. As a thank you for their service and sacrifice, Methodist Hospital awards them a pink slip and sentences them to bankruptcy.”
The mandate requiring staffers to be vaccinated has been the subject of widespread attention and of protests in the area.
Last Friday, the NewYork-Presbyterian network said employees who don’t require exemption must be vaccinated by Sept. 1.
With News Wire Services
