Source: SikhNet
http://www.sikhnet.com/news/healthcare-facility-settles-lawsuit-over-shaving-elderly-sikh-man
Westchester County Healthcare settled a case where an elderly Sikh man, Pyara Singh Sahansra, was negligently shaved by staff while he was in long-term care. United Sikhs and law-firm Storzer and Greene, LLC secured a settlement including $20,000 in compensation for Pyara Singh’s family, training for the facilities’ staff, and adoption of hospital care guidelines specific for the care of Sikh patients as part of the staff training materials.
The incident occurred at the Taylor Care Center division of Westchester Medical Center in Westchester County, New York. Pyara Singh’s family had previously spoken with Taylor Care Center staff about Sikhs and the religious practice of keeping kesh, unshorn hair, and had also placed signs on Pyara Singh’s bed to remind staff of the Sikh practice. Taylor Care Center management removed the signs stating that the signs were not allowed, but assured the family that Pyara Singh’s hair would not be cut. A few months later, the healthcare facility employed a new nurse and did not train the nurse regarding the care of Sikh patients, after which the nurse cut Pyara Singh’s beard, eyebrows, and mustache on June 3, 2007, violating his deeply held religious principles. Sadly, Pyara Singh, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, passed away on July 18, 2007, a little over a month after the incident.
After the incident occurred, UNITED SIKHS was contacted by Pyara Singh’s son, Upinderjit Singh, and assisted the family with their case by working with the law-firm of Storzer and Greene, which specializes in claims involving free practice of religion, and by liaising with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division who began an investigation and informed the hospital that it was doing so. Attorneys Roman Storzer and Robert Greene, after consultation with UNITED SIKHS’ legal team, filed a case on behalf of Pritan Kaur, Pyara Singh’s wife, alleging violations of free exercise of religion and assault and battery by staff, after which the parties began settlement discussions.