US Agency Sues Ohio Hospital Chain Over Firing of Jewish Surgeon

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a federal lawsuit against Mercy Health hospital network in Youngstown, Ohio, alleging that the network fired a Jewish orthopedic surgeon solely because of his religion and ethnicity. The surgeon, whose name was not released, had reportedly been subjected to routine antisemitic remarks in the workplace, which escalated significantly following the Hamas attack on October 7.

The lawsuit claims that coworkers accused Jews of being responsible for various conflicts and demanded the surgeon justify Israel's actions. Following the October 7 attacks, employees allegedly blamed "Jews" for events in Gaza and the attacks themselves. During this period, the surgeon was reportedly excluded from scheduling meetings and had his surgical hours reduced without his consent.

He was terminated on November 1, 2023, with the hospital network citing a reason "unrelated to his professional performance." The surgeon had worked for the network since 2015 and, according to the lawsuit, consistently performed his duties "above and beyond" employer expectations.

The surgeon is seeking permanent injunctions to prevent the network from discriminating based on religion or ethnicity, and demanding the implementation of procedures to ensure equal opportunities for Jewish employees. He is also seeking back pay and damages.

A spokesperson for Mercy Health stated, "As a Catholic organization, our mission and values guide all that we do. We welcome individuals of all faiths and backgrounds who help us advance our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our communities. We will not provide further information as we do not discuss pending legal actions."