New York City’s public hospital system is facing a federal lawsuit from a nonbinary doctor who alleges they were subjected to discrimination and ultimately pushed out of a residency program at a Manhattan hospital.
Danielle Peterson, a former dermatology resident at New York Medical College’s program at Metropolitan Hospital Center, filed the suit Monday against NYC Health and Hospitals.
The complaint alleges violations of state and city human rights laws, including gender identity discrimination, disability discrimination and retaliation.
Peterson alleges the program’s director instructed them “not to tell anyone” about being nonbinary and not to disclose their pronouns.
The complaint also says a department chair asked for an updated photograph and suggested Peterson had “tricked” the program during the interview process.
According to the lawsuit, the chair made repeated disparaging comments about women in the program and about people's appearances, contributing to what Peterson describes as a hostile work environment.
The suit also describes an incident where a faculty member allegedly asked how Peterson knew a patient’s gender, adding, “How do you know he’s not one of those perverts who identify as something else just to make everyone else’s life harder?” The faculty member then said he was joking, according to the filing.
Peterson alleges they were pressured to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and later removed from clinical duties and academic work after raising concerns about discrimination.
They are seeking damages and a jury trial in the lawsuit.
An attorney for Peterson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NYC Health and Hospitals also did not immediately respond to an inquiry.
