Atlanta
By WSBTV.com News Staff
January 21, 2025 at 6:55 am EST
ATLANTA — A healthcare company has agreed to pay a military veteran $85,000 to resolve allegations that they discriminated against the vet for not allowing his service dog to attend his medical appointment with him.
According to the settlement agreement, the veteran alleges that employees with OptumServe on Shallowford Road in Atlanta denied him access to medical services because he was accompanied by his service animal.
He said they objected to the presence of his service animal in the waiting area, requested written proof of its training and licensing, and refused to allow him to see his doctor during a scheduled visit with his service animal.
He said as a result of this, he suffered a PTSD-related anxiety attack in the waiting room.
He said the staff did not offer medical care and he was forced to leave without receiving his scheduled medical test.
During the PTSD-related anxiety attacks that the veteran suffers, he engages in behaviors where he injures himself, often hitting himself in the head and can fall to the ground.
His service animal is trained to help him during the attacks and keep him safe.
The dog is trained to guide him to the floor, where she places herself against his chest to prevent him from being able to harm himself until the attack is finished.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated the complaint and determined that OptumServe violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
OptumServe cooperated with the investigation and will train all current and future employees to ensure that anyone with disabilities, including those with service animals, is treated the same as anyone without a disability.
They will also post a sign in the waiting room that reads, “Persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal are welcome in the OptumServe Clinic.”
By WSBTV.com News Staff
January 21, 2025 at 6:55 am EST
ATLANTA — A healthcare company has agreed to pay a military veteran $85,000 to resolve allegations that they discriminated against the vet for not allowing his service dog to attend his medical appointment with him.
According to the settlement agreement, the veteran alleges that employees with OptumServe on Shallowford Road in Atlanta denied him access to medical services because he was accompanied by his service animal.
He said they objected to the presence of his service animal in the waiting area, requested written proof of its training and licensing, and refused to allow him to see his doctor during a scheduled visit with his service animal.
He said as a result of this, he suffered a PTSD-related anxiety attack in the waiting room.
He said the staff did not offer medical care and he was forced to leave without receiving his scheduled medical test.
During the PTSD-related anxiety attacks that the veteran suffers, he engages in behaviors where he injures himself, often hitting himself in the head and can fall to the ground.
His service animal is trained to help him during the attacks and keep him safe.
The dog is trained to guide him to the floor, where she places herself against his chest to prevent him from being able to harm himself until the attack is finished.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated the complaint and determined that OptumServe violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
OptumServe cooperated with the investigation and will train all current and future employees to ensure that anyone with disabilities, including those with service animals, is treated the same as anyone without a disability.
They will also post a sign in the waiting room that reads, “Persons with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal are welcome in the OptumServe Clinic.”
