Photo: Jacob Wackerhausen / iStock / Getty Images
A New York woman said she was racially profiled after she was hospitalized for a sickle cell crisis.
Now-viral video of the incident shows two security guards at NYU Langone Hospital searching the woman's room after a nurse allegedly reported that she "smelt something." In the video, the guards can be seen going through drawers and even climbing onto a toilet seat to inspect the room. The patient, who was receiving care for symptoms of sickle cell disease, was forced out of her bed as the guards went through her belongings.
The woman and a companion expressed disbelief and frustration over the situation.
“We’ve never been in a hospital like this before. This is nuts to me,” one of them said.
“Ohh, I am fuming,” the other added.
After completing the search, one of the guards told a hospital staff member that they found “nothing in the drawers.” The second guard then apologized to the patient, saying, “I apologize, and I hope that they’ll be able to help you out.”
Video of the incident garnered over 800,000 views on TikTok. Users urged the patient to file a formal complaint against the hospital.
"Get that nurses name, her supervisor and call a lawyer as you check-out of this hospital on your way to another one," one TikTok user suggested.
"I’ve worked in healthcare for 16 years and never seen or heard of this before. Find a different hospital please," another person commented.
"The level of racism in the health care should be studied," a third user said.
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