Due to keeping confidentially on here nicknames will be used in place of real names all other events are true... I am writing this in hope that I lawyer or someone with extensive knowledge in law will help me since I know longer know what to do.
I was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and went through lots of chemotheraphy and a surgery to rid of it. I have been in remission for 4 years now, but recently found 2 spots in my lung, which is highly suspected to be cancer. I am currently seeing multiple oncologist and surgeons to see what needs to be done. Because of periods of time off my co-workers cover for me and because of this know to a degree know what is going on with me (fairness since they are taking their time to help me out).
I work for a local EMS service where I am a Paramedic. There is one partner of mine, who has been a Paramedic for about a year longer than I have. He came from a town larger than the one we live in now and because of this has according to him, "much may work experience than I have.". From day one, when we work together he has consistantly reminded me that he is better than I am and brings this up to the patients attention as well. This co-worker which I will refer to as Frank has a history of steroid use and has been known to have rages involving patients and other people, which is now public knowledge due to being in jail over it, but showhow is able to keep his job at the hospital where we are based out of. During our shifts together, Frank has very poor public relations to patients and to his co-workers. During one call it got bad enough to where I confronted him. In return he got mad and stated I might be mean to people but at least I'm not dying of cancer. This is how it started,which was back in June of this year. I reported his comment along with his behavior toward the patients to my supervisor but nothing was done. I was told to take up for myself that I behave like a 12-13 year old in school. The incidents then continued to get worse each time we worked together, not only toward patients but toward me regarding my cancer. A month ago, we were on a call involving a cancer patient. While in the back of the ambulance, with the patient there in front of us, Frank looked at me, laughed, and said, "it looks like some people's cancer is a little worse than cancer in the lung, then mentioned my name" and laughed again. The patient looked at me so I know they heard this. At that moment I felt a cold feeling come over and and I couldn't look at any of them. I just felt bad cause I knew I had cancer. I again reported this incident to my supervisor and was again told to take up for myself. I explained that I felt like I was being discriminated against and that the hospital was taking up for Frank, due to nothing being done. I was told to do what I felt was necessary to make me feel better, that all she would do is talk to him and tell him to leave me alone. I then went to HR, which in turn contacted the privacy officer at the hospital. My last shift I was sent into my superviors office, along with my supervisors boss to have a conference. I told what has happened from June until now. Immediately after telling I was told that Frank did nothing wrong, that yes he shouldn't have said what he did in front of the patient but no violations were made and I am not being discriminated against. I was then threatened that I would be terminated if I decided to retaliate against Frank and I was told that I will be signning a disiplinary form to be put in my personal file for being unprofessional. I was told not to persue any further steps that I would be immediately terminated if I did so. The only means of disipline that is suppose to happen to Frank is a talken to. I feel that I am the one being retaliated against for doing what I was suppose to and reporting the incidents. I feel that something should have been done back in June and whatever it was should have been more than a talken to. I was taught that breaking confidentiality to people/patients was a violation of HIPPA and with the consistant harrasing of my cancer is a form of discrimination. In my opinion the hospital taking up for Frank makes them as guilty as he is. Frank has been a life-long friend of my supervisor and his family also work here at the hospital, one being a director of a department. I believe this is also a reason why Frank is getting away with what he is doing. The incidents involved have made it very difficult for me to function at my job. I used to enjoy going to work but now I dread walking in the door. I shouldn't have to goto work knowing that I will be harrased due for having cancer. And now, I feel like I need to walk on egg shells, in fear that I will be terminated if Frank decided to tell them I looked at him wrong. I have lost all interest in doing anything and just want to stay locked in doors. Please help
I was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and went through lots of chemotheraphy and a surgery to rid of it. I have been in remission for 4 years now, but recently found 2 spots in my lung, which is highly suspected to be cancer. I am currently seeing multiple oncologist and surgeons to see what needs to be done. Because of periods of time off my co-workers cover for me and because of this know to a degree know what is going on with me (fairness since they are taking their time to help me out).
I work for a local EMS service where I am a Paramedic. There is one partner of mine, who has been a Paramedic for about a year longer than I have. He came from a town larger than the one we live in now and because of this has according to him, "much may work experience than I have.". From day one, when we work together he has consistantly reminded me that he is better than I am and brings this up to the patients attention as well. This co-worker which I will refer to as Frank has a history of steroid use and has been known to have rages involving patients and other people, which is now public knowledge due to being in jail over it, but showhow is able to keep his job at the hospital where we are based out of. During our shifts together, Frank has very poor public relations to patients and to his co-workers. During one call it got bad enough to where I confronted him. In return he got mad and stated I might be mean to people but at least I'm not dying of cancer. This is how it started,which was back in June of this year. I reported his comment along with his behavior toward the patients to my supervisor but nothing was done. I was told to take up for myself that I behave like a 12-13 year old in school. The incidents then continued to get worse each time we worked together, not only toward patients but toward me regarding my cancer. A month ago, we were on a call involving a cancer patient. While in the back of the ambulance, with the patient there in front of us, Frank looked at me, laughed, and said, "it looks like some people's cancer is a little worse than cancer in the lung, then mentioned my name" and laughed again. The patient looked at me so I know they heard this. At that moment I felt a cold feeling come over and and I couldn't look at any of them. I just felt bad cause I knew I had cancer. I again reported this incident to my supervisor and was again told to take up for myself. I explained that I felt like I was being discriminated against and that the hospital was taking up for Frank, due to nothing being done. I was told to do what I felt was necessary to make me feel better, that all she would do is talk to him and tell him to leave me alone. I then went to HR, which in turn contacted the privacy officer at the hospital. My last shift I was sent into my superviors office, along with my supervisors boss to have a conference. I told what has happened from June until now. Immediately after telling I was told that Frank did nothing wrong, that yes he shouldn't have said what he did in front of the patient but no violations were made and I am not being discriminated against. I was then threatened that I would be terminated if I decided to retaliate against Frank and I was told that I will be signning a disiplinary form to be put in my personal file for being unprofessional. I was told not to persue any further steps that I would be immediately terminated if I did so. The only means of disipline that is suppose to happen to Frank is a talken to. I feel that I am the one being retaliated against for doing what I was suppose to and reporting the incidents. I feel that something should have been done back in June and whatever it was should have been more than a talken to. I was taught that breaking confidentiality to people/patients was a violation of HIPPA and with the consistant harrasing of my cancer is a form of discrimination. In my opinion the hospital taking up for Frank makes them as guilty as he is. Frank has been a life-long friend of my supervisor and his family also work here at the hospital, one being a director of a department. I believe this is also a reason why Frank is getting away with what he is doing. The incidents involved have made it very difficult for me to function at my job. I used to enjoy going to work but now I dread walking in the door. I shouldn't have to goto work knowing that I will be harrased due for having cancer. And now, I feel like I need to walk on egg shells, in fear that I will be terminated if Frank decided to tell them I looked at him wrong. I have lost all interest in doing anything and just want to stay locked in doors. Please help