‘Deprives deserving individuals of much-needed medical treatments solely due to their race’
Two lifelong New Yorkers have filed a lawsuit against the city and state over the decision by officials to give priority to anyone who is “non-white” for proven treatments against the COVID-19 virus.
Officials with the Pacific Legal Foundation said the case was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
It is being pursued on behalf of Jonathan Roberts and Charles Vavrusky, and names as defendants Mary Bassett, as commissioner for New York’s state Health Department, and the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Explained the foundation: “Two recently authorized oral antiviral treatments are up to 88% effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. One available monoclonal antibody treatment is effective against the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Faced with severe supply constraints for these treatments, the state and city health departments directed health care providers to prioritize patients after considering a host of risk factors, including age, vaccination status, and health conditions like cancer, diabetes, and a compromised immune system.”