A Michigan hospital has agreed to a $410,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed by a physician assistant who claimed wrongful termination due to religious objections. Valerie Kloosterman, the plaintiff, stated that her refusal to comply with workplace policies concerning transgender patients led to her dismissal.
Represented by First Liberty Institute, Kloosterman’s lawsuit stemmed from her firing by University of Michigan Health-West in August 2021. She emphasized her desire to provide quality care without compromising her Christian beliefs. The Institute highlighted Kloosterman’s positive performance reviews before her religious objections arose.
“All I wanted to do was provide the best care possible to my patients without being forced to violate my Christian beliefs,” Kloosterman shared in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Kloosterman faced termination three weeks after requesting exemption from mandatory gender identity training, which required affirming statements against her faith. The Institute reported that UMHW failed to offer alternatives.
The lawsuit revealed that hospital officials criticized Kloosterman’s religious views during a meeting, labeling her beliefs as harmful and accusing her of contributing to gender dysphoria-related suicides.
The settlement mandates UMHW to establish compliant religious accommodation policies and educate employees. It emphasizes providing accommodations without retaliation and compensates 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, reinforced Title VII’s protection against faith-based discrimination. She praised Kloosterman’s dedication to patients and expressed gratitude for resolving the case.
UMHW did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.
FCC Members Face Investigation Over Ethics Violations for Accepting Gala Tickets 
Trump’s Approval Rating Faces Challenges Ahead of Midterms 
Trump’s Weekend AI Image Spree on Truth Social 
The Modern Challenge of Satellite Navigation and the Path Forward 
Beshear Criticizes GOP Over McConnell’s Absence and Transparency Issues 
Upcoming Social Security Payment Details and Future Predictions