DaVita, Fresenius Accused of Putting Minority Patients at Risk (2)

Kidney dialysis centers in California are being accused of discriminating against Latino and Asian American patients by subjecting them to unsafe and potentially lethal treatments at disproportionately higher rates in a complaint filed Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights.

The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, the National Health Law Program and five dialysis patients say Latino and Asian American patients at centers run by DaVita Inc. and Fresenius Medical Care North America Inc. are being disproportionately exposed to hemodialysis treatments at dangerously higher speeds than white patients.

Hemodialysis is described ...