Saying the COVID-19 vaccines are experimental and they don't want to be "guinea pigs," the 117 employees argued in court that it's unlawful for their employers to require them to take the shots.

"Methodist Hospital is forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment," their lawsuit (pdf) states. They wrote that the hospital's COVID-19 vaccination mandate "requires the employee to subject themselves to medical experimentation as a prerequisite to feeding their families."

They took issue receiving "experimental COVID-19 mRNA" vaccines such as ones made by Pfizer and Moderna.

"For the first time in the history of the United States, an employer is forcing an employee to participate in an experimental vaccine trial as a condition for continued employment," the lawsuit states.

The plaintiffs cited a letter—included in the lawsuit—from the CEO and president of Houston Methodist, Marc Boom, who allegedly directed employees to "please see the HR policy that outlines the consequences of not being compliant by June 7, which include suspension and eventually termination."

Meanwhile, at the top of the lawsuit, an alleged quote from David Bernard, a CEO of a Houston Methodist branch, was included. Bernard purportedly told an employee that "100 percent vaccination is more important than your individual freedom. … Everyone [sic] of you is replaceable. If you don't like what your [sic] doing you can leave and we will replace your spot."