Deaf Knoxville man sues Parkwest, Covenant Health for refusing to provide an interpreter

A federal judge ruled in favor of a Knoxville man to continue his lawsuit against Parkwest Medical Center and Covenant Health on Tuesday, according to court documents obtained by WVLT News.

Scott Tomei is profoundly deaf and communicates by American Sign Language (ASL).

On Oct. 24, 2017, Tomei went to Parkwest Hospital after falling a few days earlier and injuring his right leg and foot.

“Upon his arrival at the hospital, Plaintiff requested a live ASL interpreter,” the document states. “Hospital staff refused Plaintiff’s request.”

Tomei was shown an x-ray of his knee and then sent home with an antibiotic and ibuprofen, but the pain increased. Two days later, he went to the Lenoir City Emergency Room where he was administered multiple medical exams. Doctors there decided to transfer him to Parkwest to see a vascular surgeon for what they thought were blood clots and a Lenoir City nurse called ahead to request an interpreter for him, according to the documents.

https://www.scribd.com/document/554149404/Scott-Allen-Tomei-V-Parkwest-Medical-Center-and-Covenant-Health#from_embed

https://www.wvlt.tv/2022/01/22/deaf-knoxville-man-sues-parkwest-covenant-health-refusing-provide-an-interpreter/
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Blatantly unconstitutional. The hospital will pay big bucks.