An Ohio state lawmaker was fired from his job as a physician on Thursday after questioning if the high rate of coronavirus cases among black Americans was due to personal hygiene practices.
State Sen. Stephen Huffman, who is a Republican, made the comments during a Senate Health Committee about whether to declare racism a public health crisis, according to the New York Times.
“Could it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups or wear a mask or do not socially distance themselves?” he said. “Could that be the explanation of why the higher incidence?”
A spokesman for TeamHealth, which employed Huffman as an emergency room doctor, confirmed he had been dismissed from his post for his public remarks.
“Dr. Huffman’s comments are wholly inconsistent with our values and commitment to creating a tolerant and diverse workplace,” TeamHealth spokesman McHenry Lee said in a statement. “TeamHealth has terminated Dr. Huffman’s employment.”
State lawmakers, as well as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, also condemned the comments, calling them “inappropriate” and “hurtful.”
“Words do matter,” DeWine said in a statement. “So do actions. He is a doctor and is in a unique position because of that to play a significant role in the legislature to work to change this serious health disparity. I hope that he will.”
Huffman apologized for the comments, saying his words did not come out as he intended.
“Regrettably, I asked a question in an unintentionally awkward way that was perceived as hurtful and was exactly the opposite of what I meant,” Huffman said. “I was trying to focus on why COVID-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons.”
