Buffalo woman alleges health care discrimination

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A North Buffalo woman has filed a lawsuit alleging unlawful discrimination against Western New York Immediate Medical Care LLC and a security guard who worked at the company.

The woman alleges that on May 23, 2022, she was “denied medical treatment based on her race.”

According to the complaint filed Tuesday, June 3, 2024, at the Erie County Clerk’s Office, the woman had attended an event at Johnnie B. Wiley on Jefferson Avenue where community members were receiving support and medical resources following the shooting. mass at Tops on Jefferson. on May 14, 2022.

The woman was told during the event where health screenings were conducted that her “blood pressure was dangerously high.”

She was eventually taken to WNY Immediate Care, located at 2497 Delaware at the time.

She claims to have been “received with hostility” by the security guard.

The woman claims the security guard told her he would “make sure” she did not receive treatment that day.

Ultimately, the woman claims, “the receptionists told her she would not receive care that day.”

According to the court document, the woman “asked if she was being denied treatment because she was black.”

She claims the security guard “became angry” and told her to leave the establishment and she alleges he “started following her” and “physically forced” her out of the building. “establishment by hitting his back with his chest, thereby causing his private parts to make physical contact with his back.”

The woman says she was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment.

She is seeking punitive damages.

Two on Your Side contacted the attorneys representing the plaintiff and Western New York Immediate Medical Care, LLC.

WNY Immediate Care has several immediate and urgent care locations across the state.