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Former UCLA resident doctor files lawsuit against UC Regents

A former UCLA resident doctor alleges her supervisors did not grant her maternity leave and later terminated her residency program because they did not want to accommodate her leg injury. (Daily Bruin file photo)

By Roberto Luna Jr. and Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

March 7, 2016 5:42 p.m.

A former UCLA resident doctor filed a lawsuit last month against the University of California Board of Regents and supervisors, alleging her supervisors did not grant her maternity leave and later terminated her residency program because they did not want to accommodate her leg injury.

Joy Ekwueme further alleged in the lawsuit filed Feb. 2 that her co-workers harassed her while she worked at the UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and supervisors did not accommodate the leg injury she had for nearly a year.

Ekwueme was pregnant when she received her residency training appointment to work at the department in March 2013. An orientation session in June was part of the training program.

According to the complainant, one of her supervisors said the department does not have a designated maternity leave, and Ekwueme had to attend orientation 10 days after giving birth.

She alleged in the lawsuit she was treated differently than other resident doctors after she began working at the department, and her work environment was hostile. She said her supervisors questioned her performance more than they did other resident doctors’ and doubted her competence, though she had proven to be as good or better than other doctors in tests.

Ekwueme also said in the lawsuit two supervisors violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, after they searched through her private medical records multiple times on multiple days.

She added she recalled an incident in her complaint in which a supervisor hit her with a rolled stack of papers. The resident doctor later said she hit her as a joke, according to the complaint.

Ekwueme said coworkers would often talk about the brace she used to support her leg, and supervisors would not accommodate her while she worked from a wheelchair. Supervisors later decided to fire her from the residency program because they believed her injury impeded her work, according to the complaint.

Bradley Mancuso, Ekwueme’s lawyer, said they filed the lawsuit for monetary compensation from lost wages and benefits, and to help Ekwueme pursue her career elsewhere.

UCLA Health officials said in a statement they take all allegations seriously, but declined to comment on the issue.

The UC Board of Regents has yet to respond to the lawsuit.

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Roberto Luna Jr. | News senior staff
Roberto Luna Jr. is currently a senior staffer covering Westwood, crime and transportation. He was previously an assistant News editor from 2015-2016 and a News contributor from 2014-2015.
Roberto Luna Jr. is currently a senior staffer covering Westwood, crime and transportation. He was previously an assistant News editor from 2015-2016 and a News contributor from 2014-2015.
Reyes is the Daily Bruin's News editor and an Editorial Board member. Previously, she was the Science & Health editor covering research, the UCLA health system and graduate school news. She also writes Arts & Entertainment stories and photographs for the Bruin.
Reyes is the Daily Bruin's News editor and an Editorial Board member. Previously, she was the Science & Health editor covering research, the UCLA health system and graduate school news. She also writes Arts & Entertainment stories and photographs for the Bruin.
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