Final answer:
Doctors' offices can legally check a person's Employment History when considering credit card use for bills, as it pertains to financial responsibility. Race, Gender, and Religion are prohibited factors under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
When doctors' offices permit the use of a credit card to pay bills, they may check various attributes before granting credit. However, under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, they are prohibited from using factors such as race, gender, and religion in making credit decisions. Of the options provided (Race, Gender, Age, and Employment History), the characteristic that can be legally checked on a routine basis is D) Employment History. This is because employment history is relevant to a person's financial responsibilities and ability to repay debt, and it's not a protected characteristic under anti-discrimination laws related to credit assessment.
The characteristic that can be legally checked on a routine basis in a doctor's office before granting the use of a credit card to pay bills is employment history. Doctors' offices are permitted to check an individual's employment history to assess their financial stability and ability to pay their medical bills. However, they cannot legally check characteristics such as race, gender, or age as these are protected under the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) laws.