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.”

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