By Rick Kelley
"Who will defend our rights?" It's a question I've been asking
myself, and I think with good reason. Back in April of 2000 I began work at a ho
spital in South Carolina, working in the medical records department. On my second day of work, I went outside during my lunch break to catch a breath of fresh air. Even though it was April it still felt like it was December weather, for it was as cold as an icicle.
As I am sitting on the bench, I began to keel over and have chest pains. I panicked as I thought that I was having a heart attack and dying. Now as I look back on it, I realize that I should have gone down to the emergency room immediately for medical attention. But whenever something like this happens, one never knows for sure how he or she will react- no matter how much one might be prepared for it. I panicked and I thought that I was dying.
Since I live less than a mile from this hospital, I made tracks for my home. I felt if I were going to die that I wanted to die at home and not in any hospital, no matter how nice that it might be. When I got to my house, I made it to my bedroom where I collapsed and passed out onto my bed. When I came to, I immediately phoned my supervisor and left a message on her voice mail as to what had happened and where I was.
The next day, I went back out to the e.r. to be checked out, and I was admitted to the hospital for further observations and tests. The tests results came back that I indeed came very close to having a heart attack that could have taken me out of this world. I was discharged on a Sunday and when I got home I checked the emails on my computer. There was one on there from the personnel director of the hospital. It informed me that since I did not finish out my first full week of employment, that I was being taken off the payroll. In other words, I was being canned for being a patient in this very same hospital for a medical condition that I had no control over that could have cost me my life.
I took my complaint to the EEOC whom sided with the hospital. It seems that in South Carolina there is something that is called "at will," which means that any employer can dismiss or discharge any employee for any given reason, and there is very little if anything at all that can or will be done about it.
Amazing isn't it? I thought the Americans With Disabilities Act was supposed to protect the rights of the disabled and physically challenged individuals like myself from being threatened and violated. I guess somehow though that the state of South Carolina managed to get itself exempt from this and all other federal laws and regulations. What really infuriates me is to know that the elected representatives from South Carolina are sworn to stand up and protect the rights of their constituents like myself. But they've have all taken a powder and not done the first thing about the way that my rights were allowed to be ignored and railroaded. These elected representatives includes our current Attorney General and Governor, who are both vying for the same office in next year's election. They also include our own two U.S. Senators and the current Congressman from the Fourth Congressional District. Now, I do not like having to write anything negative about anyone and especially if it is an elected official. But the truth must be told here to prevent someone else from having his or her rights threatened and violated like mine were allowed to be.
So now I ask you the question again. "Who will defend our rights?" You decide and let me know. Thanks so much and God Bless. Until next time America. Rickey Kelley.
You can email Rick Kelley at rdkelley@infi.net to touch base.
