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Only two weeks into the new year, and Uber is in hot water again.

The driving service is under fire after a New York City Uber driver refused to pick up a woman who was in labor. According to reports, David Lee and his wife called an Uber to the hospital, but the driver complained because the expectant mother vomited on the sidewalk.

He informed them he would lose $1,000 a day if Lee’s wife became sick in the car and told them no other driver would accept a woman in labor as a passenger. Although the couple pleaded with the driver, assuring him they would pay any cleaning for his car, he denied them. He also charged the couple $13, even though he left them on the sidewalk.

Despite the mishap, Lee and his wife summoned another Uber and welcomed a healthy baby boy a few hours later. Lee was refunded the $13, but when he asked the company for more information in order to pursue a complaint with New York’s taxi regulator, a representative refused, citing a driver privacy policy.

Uber released a statement following the incident, saying, “Denying service to a passenger in labor is unacceptable: it goes against our code of conduct and the standard of service our riders rely on. We extend our deepest apologies to both riders and have taken action to respond to this complaint. We are glad that the rider’s next driver was professional and courteous.”

They added that anytime a rider reports discrimination, the company will investigate and, in some cases, terminate its relationship with the driver.

SOURCE: Fortune | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty 

 

Uber Driver Refuses To Pick Up Woman In Labor, Charges Her $13  was originally published on globalgrind.com