UCLA medical school hit with class-action lawsuit for allegedly still using race-based admissions process
The University of California, Los Angeles, medical school is facing a class-action lawsuit for allegedly continuing to employ a race-based admissions process despite a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that deemed such programs unconstitutional. The lawsuit was filed by nonprofit organization Do No Harm and Students for Fair Admissions on behalf of applicants who claim they faced discrimination based on race and ethnicity in the admissions process at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine.
Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, chair of Do No Harm, stated that UCLA has disregarded the Supreme Court ruling and treated it as a mere recommendation rather than a binding law. The lawsuit alleges that UCLA’s medical school has engaged in intentional racial balancing, with a significant decrease in the percentage of white and Asian matriculants despite a consistent number of white and Asian applicants.
UCLA’s medical school, known for its high competitiveness with an acceptance rate of 3.3%, is accused of violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by using race as a factor in admissions decisions. The lawsuit names several defendants, including the medical school, the University of California’s governing board, and the associate dean of admissions at the medical school.
The admissions process at UCLA’s medical school allegedly requires applicants to submit responses that reveal their race, which is later confirmed through interviews. The admission committee is said to openly discuss race and use it as a factor in making admissions decisions, in violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on race-based affirmative action programs.
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is currently under investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights over allegations of discrimination against applicants based on race, color, or national origin. The investigation was initiated following complaints from whistleblowers within the admissions office regarding lower standards set for Black and Latino applicants compared to White and Asian applicants.
The lawsuit and ongoing investigation highlight the importance of upholding merit-based admissions processes in medical schools and ensuring equal opportunities for all aspiring medical professionals. It remains to be seen how UCLA will respond to these legal challenges and whether changes will be implemented to align with the law of the land regarding admissions practices.
