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NY hospital pays for shaving Sikh
NEW YORK: A New
York hospital has paid US $20,000 for negligently shaving the beard,
eyebrows and moustache of an elderly Sikh patient while he was in
long-term care at the facility.
A worldwide news release by the USA-based community
coalition, United Sikhs, said that Westchester County Healthcare has
paid out the sum in an out of court settlement with the family of
Pyara Singh Sahansra, an elderly patient of Alzheimer's disease, who
passed away a month after he was shaved.
A newly employed nurse, who had not been trained to care for
Sikh patients, cut Pyara Singh's beard, eyebrows and moustache
"violating his deeply held religious principles."
This incident occurred "despite the fact that the patient's
family had instructed staff at the Taylor Care Centre about Sikhs
and their religious practice of keeping kesh (unshorn hair). The
family had also placed signs on Pyara Singh's bed to remind the
staff of the practice."
Now, in settlement of a lawsuit filed on behalf of the
patient's wife, Ms Pritam Kaur, the hospital has agreed to pay
$20,000 in compensation to Pyara Singh's family.
The final settlement also includes provisions for training
Taylor Care Centre employees on Sikh patient care.
15
April 2009
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