Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Supreme Court Hears Pregnancy Discrimination Case
NPR: Did UPS Discriminate Against A Pregnant Worker By Letting Her Go?
Women's reproductive rights are once again before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. Only this time, pregnancy discrimination is the issue and pro-life and pro-choice groups are on the same side, opposed by business groups. In 1976, the Supreme Court ruled that an employer that does not include pregnancy in its disability plan is not discriminating based on gender; it's just omitting coverage for one disability. Congress quickly amended the sex-discrimination law to ban discrimination based on pregnancy. But since then, most appeals courts have interpreted the law narrowly. Wednesday's case is a test of what is now required under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. (Totenberg, 12/3)
Marketplace: Supreme Court Hears Pregnancy Case
The Supreme Court is hearing a pregnancy discrimination case Wednesday that involves a woman who sued the United Parcel Service. Lower courts have basically dismissed the lawsuit, brought by former UPS worker Peggy Young. Still, businesses are paying attention to this case. (Marshall-Genzer, 12/3)
CBS News: Pregnancy Discrimination Case Brings Together Unusual Allies
After a streak of Supreme Court decisions perceived as setbacks, women's rights advocates are hoping for a better outcome for women in a case involving a pregnancy discrimination charge. The high court on Wednesday hears arguments in the case, Young v. United Parcel Service, in which former UPS worker Peggy Young is arguing the company violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 by refusing to make accommodations for her while she was pregnant. (Condon, 12/3)
