Nurse Sues Hospital After Vaccine Religious Exemption Revoked

Update 10/28/24

St. Clare’s Health provided the following statement to nurse.org about the case, 

“Saint Clare’s Health places the utmost importance on staff and patient safety. Vaccine requirements and regulations follow a complex set of Federal, State and County guidelines. Saint Clare’s Health has always and will continue to follow state and federal requirements. As this is an active legal matter, there is no further information to provide at this time,” said a Spokesperson from St. Clare’s Health. 

10/25/24

Alexandra Clark, a behavioral health nurse at Saint Clare’s Hospital, has taken legal action against her employer, alleging discrimination based on the hospital’s refusal to grant religious exemptions from its mandatory influenza vaccination policy. The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Morris County on October 18, claims that the hospital’s stance violates New Jersey’s anti-discrimination laws and the state constitution.

The core of the dispute lies in the hospital’s recent decision to stop accepting requests for religious exemptions from its vaccination requirements. This change in policy has put employees like Clark in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between their religious convictions and their employment.

Prior to the policy change, Clark, a devout Catholic, had successfully obtained religious exemptions from the hospital’s vaccination mandates without incident. However, in September, Saint Clare’s Hospital abruptly altered its approach, no longer considering religious-based exemption requests.

This sudden shift has not only affected Clark but potentially numerous other employees as well. The lawsuit seeks class-action status, aiming to represent all employees who have been impacted by the hospital’s revised policy.

Legal Arguments and Potential Implications

Clark’s legal team argues that the hospital’s refusal to consider religious exemptions while continuing to allow medical exemptions constitutes discrimination against current and potential employees. They contend that this practice is not only illegal but also unnecessary, given that Clark and others have previously been able to perform their duties without causing undue hardship to the hospital.

The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief to halt the hospital’s current vaccination policy. If successful, this case could have far-reaching implications for healthcare facilities across New Jersey and potentially influence similar policies nationwide.