In a shocking case of racial discrimination, Alexander Morris, the lead singer of Motown's legendary Four Tops, has filed a lawsuit against Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren, Michigan. Morris, who is Black, alleges that he was wrongly assumed to be "delusional" when he mentioned his affiliation with the famous vocal quartet, leading to discriminatory treatment and a detrimental delay in receiving proper medical care.

The incident occurred on April 7, 2023, when Morris sought medical attention at the hospital due to clear symptoms of cardiac distress. Despite his visible distress, including difficulty breathing and chest pain, the nurse and security guard in the emergency room did not believe Morris's claim of being a member of the Four Tops and his concerns about stalkers and fans.

Instead of addressing his medical needs, a doctor ordered a psychological evaluation, and Morris was forced into a restraining jacket, enduring at least an hour and a half of restraint. The lawsuit accuses the hospital and two staff members, a nurse and a security guard, of negligence, racial discrimination, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Morris, who has a significant history of cardiac disease, including prior procedures such as the placement of stents and a defibrillator, believed that his treatment was unnecessarily delayed due to the staff's disbelief. During his hospitalization, he was diagnosed with a heart infraction, pneumonia, and experienced three seizures, potentially requiring a heart transplant. His condition worsened due to the delayed treatment.

According to the lawsuit, the hospital staff, including a white male security guard, racially profiled Morris and dismissively assumed he was mentally ill upon learning about his celebrity status. Despite Morris's repeated requests for his oxygen and restraint device to be removed, his pleas were ignored. The suit also alleges that when Morris asked if he could prove his identity with an identification card, he was subjected to derogatory remarks by the security guard.

It was not until Morris's wife informed the staff that he was indeed a member of the Four Tops that a nurse verified his identity by watching a video of his performance at the Grammys. Finally, the medical staff acknowledged their mistake and removed the restraint jacket and placed him back on oxygen.

The ordeal caused Morris severe mental and psychological suffering, leaving him with a strong desire to hold the hospital accountable for their mistreatment and to prevent future incidents of racism in healthcare, particularly for younger generations.

The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $75,000 and demands a jury trial for what Morris claims to be racial discrimination, violation of civil rights, negligence, gross negligence, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the Disabilities Act.

In response to the lawsuit, an Ascension Hospital spokesperson expressed that they do not condone racial discrimination and refrained from commenting on the pending litigation. They reaffirmed their commitment to the well-being, safety, and dignity of their patients, associates, and community members.

This disturbing incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities in healthcare. It highlights the importance of addressing systemic racism and discrimination within medical institutions to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all patients.