Current:Home > reviewsAdvocacy group sues Tennessee over racial requirements for medical boards -ProfitLogic
Advocacy group sues Tennessee over racial requirements for medical boards
View
Date:2025-04-12 20:33:35
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A nonprofit dedicated to opposing diversity initiatives in medicine has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the requirements surrounding the racial makeup of key medical boards in Tennessee.
The Virginia-based Do No Harm filed the lawsuit earlier this month, marking the second legal battle the group has launched in the Volunteer State in the past year.
In 2023, Do No Harm filed a similar federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s requirement that one member of the Tennessee Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners must be a racial minority. That suit was initially dismissed by a judge in August but the group has since filed an appeal to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Do No Harm is now targeting Tennessee’s Board of Medical Examiners, which requires the governor to appoint at least one Black member, and Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which requires one racial minority member.
In both lawsuits, Do No Harm and their attorneys with the Pacific Legal Foundation say they have clients who were denied board appointments because they weren’t a minority.
“While citizens may serve on a wide array of boards and commissions, an individual’s candidacy often depends on factors outside his or her control, like age or race,” the lawsuit states. “Sadly, for more than thirty-five years, Tennessee governors have been required to consider an individual’s race when making appointments to the state’s boards, commissions, and committees.”
A spokesperson for the both the medical and chiropractic boards did not immediately return a request for comment on Thursday. Gov. Bill Lee is named as the defendant in the lawsuit, due to his overseeing of state board appointments, and also did not immediately return a request for comment.
More than 35 years ago, the Tennessee Legislature adopted legislation directing the governor to “strive to ensure” that at least one member on state advisory boards are ages 60 or older and at least one member who is a “member of a racial minority.”
Do No Harm’s lawsuit does not seek overturn the age requirement in Tennessee law.
According to the suit, there are two vacancies on the Board of Medical Examiners but because all of the current members are white, Gov. Lee “must consider a potential board member’s race as a factor in making his appointment decisions.”
Do No Harm was founded by Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a kidney specialist and a professor emeritus and former associate dean at the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school. He retired in 2021 and incorporated Do No Harm — a phrase included in Hippocratic oath taken by all new physician receiving a medical degree — in 2022.
That same year, Do No Harm sued Pfizer over its program for its race-based eligibility requirements for a fellowship program designed for college students of Black, Latino and Native American descent. While the suit was dismissed, Pfizer dropped the program.
Meanwhile, Do No Harm has also offered model legislation to restrict gender-affirming care for youth which have been adopted by a handful of states.
veryGood! (429)
Related
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- BOYNEXTDOOR members talk growth on '19.99' release: 'It's like embarking on our adulthood'
- To pumped-up Democrats, Harris was everything Biden was not in confronting Trump in debate
- Apple announces new iPhone 16: What to know about the new models, colors and release date
- Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
- Police in Tyreek Hill incident need to be fired – and the Dolphins owner must speak out
- Lilly Pulitzer Sunshine Sale Last Day to Shop: Don’t Miss 70% Off Deals Better Than Black Friday Prices
- Dodgers' miscues, Pete Crow-Armstrong push Cubs to win in Yoshinobu Yamamoto's return
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos announces departure after 40-year tenure
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are declared divorced and single
- MTV VMAs reveal most dramatic stage yet ahead of 40th anniversary award show
- Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes hugged. Then the backlash. Here's what it says about us.
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Focusing only on your 401(k) or IRA? Why that may not be the best retirement move.
- A wrongful death settlement doesn’t end an investigation into a toddler’s disappearance
- When does 'Survivor' Season 47 start? Premiere date, cast, where to watch and stream
Recommendation
This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
When does NHL season start? Key dates for 2024-25
Hawaii voters asked to ensure protection of same-sex marriage
Wife of California inmate wins $5.6 million after 'sexual violation' during strip search
The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
Amid fears of storm surge and flooding, Hurricane Francine takes aim at Louisiana coast
Wisconsin appeals court says teenager accused of killing 10-year-old girl will stay in adult court
Adopted. Abused. Abandoned. How a Michigan boy's parents left him in Jamaica