Muslim Woman Sues Somerset Medical Center for Religious Discrimination

July 11, 2010

Author: Jennifer Golson

Source: The New Jersey Star-Ledger

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/07/muslim_woman_sues_somerset_hos.html

Rona Mohammedi went to Somerset Medical Center the night of Feb. 11 with severe chest pains. After hearing she would need an electrocardiogram, she asked for a female to conduct the test.

A Muslim, Mohammedi wears traditional garb, including the hijab, or head scarf. The Basking Ridge woman believes it is her religious duty to maintain modesty before strange men, and an EKG calls for wires to be applied to the chest, shoulders and wrists.

Instead of heeding her request, officials let her languish in the emergency room for five hours until 3:10 a.m., when her husband sought a transfer. She is suing the hospital for discrimination and violating the Patient Bill of Rights.