Consumers’ Research, a nonprofit focused on consumer advocacy, has launched a campaign criticizing the Cleveland Clinic for what it claims is an emphasis on political and ideological issues rather than patient care.
The initiative, titled Cleveland Clinic Exposed, questions whether the hospital is the “most woke” in the country. The campaign will feature an advertisement called Exposed, which is set to air in Ohio during the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors game, according to Fox News.
“Is Cleveland Clinic the most woke hospital in America?” the ad states. “They prioritize treatment based on race, perform gender transition procedures on minors, and promote transgender ideology to vulnerable children. DEI is embedded in every aspect of their operations.”
The campaign further alleges that the hospital spends millions on environmental activism. “The CEO himself admitted that healthcare is only one part of their mission,” the ad continues. “Cleveland Clinic is more focused on politics than on what’s best for patients.”
In addition to airing the ad, the campaign will be promoted on ClevelandClinicExposed.com, with mobile billboards displayed at key locations, including the Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, the Ohio state capitol, and the Florida state capitol. A digital outreach effort is also underway, including a “woke alert” urging the hospital to keep politics out of medical care.
One alert specifically addresses Florida residents, warning that the hospital has opened a gender transition clinic in the state.
The campaign references a statement from Cleveland Clinic CEO Tom Mihaljevic, in which he noted that healthcare is just one component of the organization’s broader mission. “Providing high-quality healthcare is only a part of our mission,” Mihaljevic stated. “We have a responsibility to support our communities, improve quality of life, promote sustainability, and advocate for diversity and inclusion.”
Cleveland Clinic has previously faced criticism over alleged “woke” policies, including a complaint from the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, which accused the hospital of racial discrimination in patient care. The clinic’s website has also featured posts on environmental initiatives, including efforts to make operating rooms more sustainable.
In 2022, the hospital appointed Jacqui Robertson as its chief of diversity and inclusion. A now-deleted statement announcing her role indicated that she would lead efforts to embed DEI principles throughout the health system. In a 2023 interview, Robertson stated, “Diversity and inclusion shouldn’t be a separate strategy—it must be integrated into everything we do.”
Other past initiatives by the Cleveland Clinic have included guidance on supporting children questioning their gender identity, a statement labeling racism as a public health crisis, and participation in a coalition to promote job opportunities for Black Americans. Some of these statements and press releases have since been removed from the hospital’s website.
Looks to me like Cleveland needs better management or DEFUNDED. Like more clinics in Ohio.