Ochsner Health workers file lawsuits in Caddo, Ouachita to block health system’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate

(AP/KSLA) — Some employees of Louisiana’s largest health system have asked judges to block the system’s vaccine mandate in two of its regions.

Ochsner LSU Health issued the following statement the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 6 in response to the civil lawsuits filed the previous day in state district courts in Caddo and Ouachita parishes:

“We are aware of yesterday’s filing and are unable to provide further comment about ongoing litigation. We stand firmly behind the science and data that demonstrates the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination. We know that COVID-19 vaccination dramatically reduces transmission, severity of symptoms, hospitalizations, and death.
“Since vaccines were approved in December 2020, approximately 90% of those hospitalized with COVID in our facilities have been unvaccinated. The cost of treating COVID-19 particularly for those requiring intensive care is expensive. One change to our 2022 employee healthcare benefits offering is a cost adjustment for spouses who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. The cost does not apply to employees or non-employed spouses who choose a health plan outside of Ochsner LSU Health.
“We remain committed to improving the health and wellness and will continue to serve as a source of truth and provide ongoing resources, education and vaccine opportunities to our employees and community.”

Chuck Daigle, CEO, Ochsner LSU Health

Court records show 39 Ochsner Health employees signed on as plaintiffs with the petition filed Tuesday, Oct. 5 in Caddo District Court.

They say Louisiana’s Constitution and laws guarantee citizens a right to decide their medical treatments.

The lawsuits also argue that the COVID-19 vaccines don’t prevent transmission of the coronavirus.

“Defendants are attempting to force Plaintiffs to undergo vaccination for COVID-19 over their personal objections and in disregard of their uniquely well-informed understanding of the virus and treatment options,” contends the petition filed in Caddo District Court in Shreveport.

“In the best possible light, it is a misguided effort to protect the unvaccinated persons from themselves and participate in a public policy designed to increase vaccination at large. Viewed for what it is, Defendants are attempting to coerce Plaintiffs’ consent to medical treatment by threatening to punish their exercise of a fundamental right under the pretext of workplace safety.”

Ochsner has more than 32,000 employees across Louisiana and into Mississippi. The vast majority of them are fully vaccinated.

Below is the lawsuit filed Oct. 5, 2021, in Caddo District Court:

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press/KSLA News 12. All rights reserved.