Pacific Clinics promotes and ensures that people have equal access to and the opportunity to participate in certain health care and human service programs without facing unlawful discrimination. We carry out this mission by enforcing Federal and State laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation and Limited English Proficiency and other “protected characteristics” in programs and activities.

California law provides additional “protected characteristics” such as ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, AIDS/HIV, genetic information, political activities or affiliations, military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, assault, or stalking.

What Are Civil Rights?

Civil Rights help to protect you from unfair treatment or discrimination because of your race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex (gender), or religion. Learn more about your civil rights. California law provides additional “protected characteristics” such as marital status, sexual orientation and identity, AIDS/HIV diagnosis, medical condition, political activities or affiliations, military or veteran status, or status as a victim of domestic violence, assault or stalking.

As an example, civil rights include:

  • freedom of speech
  • the right to vote
  • due process of law
  • equal protection of the laws and
  • protection from unlawful discrimination

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule protects the privacy of your health information; it says who can look at and receive your health information and also gives you specific rights over that information. Learn more about your health information.

The Landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI, of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. As President John F. Kennedy said in 1963:

“Simple justice requires that public funds, to which all taxpayers of all races [colors and national origins] contribute, not be spent in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I file a complaint?
If you believe you have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, religion, or language barriers, you or your representative may file a complaint with Pacific Clinics’ Civil Rights Officer or the Pacific Region Office of Civil Rights. Complaints alleging discrimination in services on the basis of disability may also be filed with either entity.

Complaints can be filed by here.

Civil Rights Officer
Pacific Clinics
251 Llewellyn Ave
Campbell, CA  95008
Phone: (408) 364.4005
Email: civilrightsofficer@pacificclinics.org

Pacific Region Office of Civil Rights
Regional Manager
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
90 7th Street, Suite 4-100
San Francisco, CA 94103
Customer Response Center: (800) 368-1019
Fax: (202) 619-3818
TDD: (800) 537-7697
Email: ocrmail@hhs.gov

Your complaint must:

  • Be filed in writing by mail, email, or by contacting the Pacific Clinics civil rights hotline at (408) 364-4005
  • Describe the acts or omissions, you believed violated the civil rights laws or regulations
  • Be filed within 180 days of when you knew that the act or omission complained of occurred. Pacific Clinics may extend the 180-day period if you can show “good cause.”

Resources

S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, 1964 S. Department of Justice, https://www.justice.gov/crt/title-vi-1964-civil-rights-act

Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990, U.S. Department of Labor, http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/disability/ada.htm

Health Insurance and Portability Privacy Act, 1996, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html

Protected Characteristics, Equality and Human Rights Commission, http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/private-and-public-sector-guidance/guidance-all/protected-characteristics