Last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California affirmed ACB’s trial victory against Quest Diagnostics. In 2023, following a week long bench trial in Los Angeles, a federal court in California had found Quest Diagnostics in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and enjoined Quest from continuing to violate the ADA. Quest appealed that decision.
Beginning in 2016, Quest Diagnostics began to install self-service kiosks at its Patient Service Centers, which allow patients to, among other things, check in for phlebotomy appointments in a private and independent manner. Following complaints from ACB’s members that these kiosks as designed prevent people who are blind from accessing their services, ACB joined a civil rights complaint in federal court alleging that Quest’s kiosks deprived members of the blind community full and equal enjoyment of Quest’s services and failed to provide effective communication.
In 2023, the Court ruled in favor of ACB and a nationwide class of blind and low vision Quest patients. The court found that Quest violated Title III of the ADA in that Quest failed to effectively communicate with its blind patients regarding Quest’s services and facilities. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has now affirmed that judgment.
“Self-service kiosks are increasingly used in many aspects of daily public life,” said Scott Thornhill, Executive Director for The American Council of the Blind. “This appellate victory, upholding the Court’s decision that Quest violated the ADA and that the check-in services of these kiosks must be accessible to people who are blind, is another significant step towards ensuring that the rights to full and equal enjoyment and effective communication are protected.”
Deb Cook Lewis, President of the American Council of the Blind added, “Although the ADA is more than 30 years old, people who are blind are still forced to fight for full and equal access to healthcare. This judgment and appellate result sends a clear message that effective communication is required by law, and health care providers must ensure access for people with disabilities.”
Posted on March 6th, 2025