Yes, you read that headline right. This kind of jerk actually exists. It’s definitely a worst nightmare scenario for many expectant parents that unfortunately became real for David Lee and his pregnant wife when a New York City Uber driver refused to take them to the hospital, because he was worried about his car getting dirty.
Lee’s wife went into labor earlier than expected, so they ordered an Uber car (which seems like the logical thing to do in New York City, considering riding the subway while in labor doesn’t seem like a great idea), according to Fortune. When his wife threw up on the sidewalk, the driver refused to take them, but still charged them $13 for the ride.
Luckily, the Lees were able to get another Uber whose driver actually did their job, and took them to the hospital, where they delivered a healthy baby boy. While Uber refunded the couple their $13, the company did refuse to disclose the information of the driver who left them. Why is that frustrating? Because now they can’t file a complaint with New York’s taxi regulator.
Uber protects their drivers with their driver privacy policy:
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“Subject to all applicable laws, Uber may provide to a third party any information (including personal data and any Uber Data) about Drivers provided hereunder if: (a) there is a complaint, dispute or conflict, including an accident, relating to a Driver.”
Which is all good and dandy, except for this case–especially (as Fortune points out) city and state laws in New York forbid drivers to refuse transporting women in labor. So, in this situation, Uber is obligated to disclose this information, despite their policy. What the driver did is actually illegal (and put a woman’s health at risk!).
Clearly what happened to this expectant couple is terrible, and the fact that Uber doesn’t want to take responsibility for it reveals how women’s health isn’t taken seriously enough.