A current member of the iconic soul and R&B group, the Four Tops, Alexander Morris, is taking legal action against a Michigan hospital, alleging racial discrimination and denial of necessary medical care. The incident occurred in April 2023 when Morris, 53, experienced chest pains and shortness of breath while on tour and was rushed to the Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital in Warren.
Upon arrival, Morris informed the hospital staff about his health concerns and his celebrity status as a member of the Four Tops. However, instead of receiving the medical attention he needed, Morris claims that the staff became dismissive and subjected him to a psychiatric evaluation, believing him to be “delusional.”
According to the lawsuit, Morris was restrained and forced to undergo the evaluation for an hour and a half. He also alleges that a white security guard at the hospital used a racial slur when ordering him to sit down. The situation was only resolved when Morris’s wife arrived and showed the staff a video of him performing at the Grammy Awards, proving his identity.
Morris, who joined the Four Tops in 2019, has a history of heart disease. He was eventually diagnosed with a heart attack and pneumonia and suffered three seizures within the same day. Morris’s attorneys, Maurice Davis and Jasmine Rand, assert that the hospital’s actions were a result of racial profiling, stating that “the hospital staff and security guard were quicker to assume Mr. Morris was psychotic than successful because he was a Black man.”
Morris is seeking compensation of at least $75,000 and has requested a trial by jury. He claims that the hospital’s initial response to his situation could have life-altering consequences, as he may require a heart transplant in the future. The hospital has released a statement expressing their commitment to “honoring human dignity and acting with integrity and compassion” but has declined to comment further on the pending litigation.
Alexander Morris, a current member of the Four Tops, is suing a hospital for racial discrimination and denial of medical care. He was rushed to the hospital with chest pains and shortness of breath.
Morris, 53, experienced chest pains and shortness of breath and was rushed to Ascension Macomb Oakland Hospital in Warren, Michigan. He is suing the hospital, alleging racial discrimination and improper psychiatric evaluation instead of providing necessary medical care.
The Four Tops are renowned for their significant contribution to the Motown sound, alongside other legendary acts such as the Temptations, the Supremes, and Martha and the Vandellas. Morris’s lawsuit against the hospital, a nurse, and a security guard (who has since passed away) underscores the ongoing issue of racial bias in medical settings and the potential life-threatening consequences of such discrimination.
Morris claims he was initially given oxygen but was then subjected to a psychiatric evaluation when he expressed concerns about stalkers and fans due to his celebrity status as a member of the Four Tops.
Morris’s wife had to intervene and prove his identity to the hospital staff by showing them a video of his performance at the Grammy Awards, after which the psychiatric evaluation was canceled, and he received proper medical attention.
The hospital offered Morris a $25 gift card as an apology, which he declined. Morris’s lawsuit seeks not only compensation but also accountability and recognition of the racial bias that influenced the denial of his medical care. It serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for cultural competency and equitable treatment within the healthcare system.
Morris suffered a heart attack and may require a heart transplant in the future. He also battled pneumonia and experienced three seizures on the same day, highlighting the seriousness of his medical condition.
Morris is seeking $75,000 in damages and a trial by jury. He asserts that the hospital’s failure to provide proper medical care could have life-altering consequences, as he may need a heart transplant in the future.