I've kept my eye on the Deaf Medical Student's lawsuit, and it has disappointing results. To paraphrase, The school argued once Mr. Argenyi graduates, using interpreters could violate patient confidentiality (and therefore he shouldn't use interpreters in school).
Has Creighton University forgotten patients have the legal right to request interpreters? Or how about medical professionals having a responsibility to provide an interpreter when communication is insufficient without one? The jurors agreed the school failed to adhere to ADA, but found it was not intentional. As a result, the school does not owe any money for the interpreting services. Mr. Argenyi will need to request an appeal to be reimbursed for the loans he obtained to provide his own accommodations. Should intent matter in this lawsuit? By refusing to pay for intepreters, that IS deliberately denying accommodations and in my opinion-- the bill belongs to the school.
I believe it was intentional on the school's part to avoid providing accommodations because it is expensive and inconvenient for the school to pay for those services. If they did not make an effort to provide equal access, that was likely done by exhibiting a lackadaisical attitude while under the guise of protecting the school's profit margins. But of course I don't have evidence and my opinion makes zero difference in this lawsuit. I feel sorry for Mr. Argenyi and I hope he completes his medical training. The lawsuit shouldn't stop him from returning to that school for the very reason that the lawsuit happened. The staff will now bend over backwards to make sure they adhere to ADA laws. He can get his revenge by refusing to ever donate as an alumni.
I get it. It's unfair to force schools to pay for deaf peoples' accommodations when the school's end goal is profit. Some people think this means stealing from person A to give to person B. You'd assume a private, religious institution would be more than happy to help out those in need.
I am disappointed that some schools would rather sweep disabled people under the rug because accommodations are expensive, but how else can we improve ourselves if we're limited to min. wage jobs? We may wish we could get through school independently, but we need some help getting us on equal footing with the rest of the world. I'm OK asking for help, and in a few years I will gladly donate to my alumni to pay them back. But shame shame shame on Creighton University!
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As an update to my own nursing school-- I'm busy! I'll write a more detailed updated after the first month has finished.
