Legal News

Stories about physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in lawsuits—as either a plaintiff or a defendant—or accused of breaking the law. Various legal updates or unusual stories in the news may land here.

DOJ unveils West Coast ‘Strike Force’ as new tactic used to tackle healthcare fraud
Federal authorities said the shift to regional “Strike Force” models has proven successful, with 6,200 defendants prosecuted nationwide. The DOJ said this latest unit will take a special interest in Northern California.
Radiologists among physician specialists facing higher risk of being sued, AMA says
About 38% of rads surveyed said they had defended against at least one lawsuit, with such specialists at a higher risk than others in internal medicine.
6 pointers to make sure the hospital legal team is appropriately engaged in AI governance, oversight
Legal and compliance teams have to serve as sentinels sizing up potential legal exposure points without turning into needlers who only slow down clinical innovation.
Nonprofit physician support program faces lawsuit from two docs who say it irreparably damaged their careers
Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP), a contractor with the state health department, is accused of trapping two physicians into mental health treatment as a condition of maintaining their medical residency jobs. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking class action status.
FTC settles antitrust lawsuit against private equity-backed anesthesiology chain
Federal regulators alleged that U.S. Anesthesia Partners—a portfolio company of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowes—engaged in a “roll-up scheme” in Texas that effectively eliminated the competition. The company denies the allegations, but has agreed to undisclosed terms that would see the lawsuit resolved.

DOJ unveils West Coast ‘Strike Force’ as new tactic used to tackle healthcare fraud

Federal authorities said the shift to regional “Strike Force” models has proven successful, with 6,200 defendants prosecuted nationwide. The DOJ said this latest unit will take a special interest in Northern California.

Medical malpractice gavel diagnostic error mistake stethoscope

Radiologists among physician specialists facing higher risk of being sued, AMA says

About 38% of rads surveyed said they had defended against at least one lawsuit, with such specialists at a higher risk than others in internal medicine.

6 pointers to make sure the hospital legal team is appropriately engaged in AI governance, oversight

Legal and compliance teams have to serve as sentinels sizing up potential legal exposure points without turning into needlers who only slow down clinical innovation.

Nonprofit physician support program faces lawsuit from two docs who say it irreparably damaged their careers

Washington Physicians Health Program (WPHP), a contractor with the state health department, is accused of trapping two physicians into mental health treatment as a condition of maintaining their medical residency jobs. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are seeking class action status.

Michigan has become the 20th state to opt out from federal regulations that require physician supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The move was made to ensure access to value-based, high-quality care across the state, but it is being opposed by the Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) and several other physician groups. Image from the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA)

FTC settles antitrust lawsuit against private equity-backed anesthesiology chain

Federal regulators alleged that U.S. Anesthesia Partners—a portfolio company of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowes—engaged in a “roll-up scheme” in Texas that effectively eliminated the competition. The company denies the allegations, but has agreed to undisclosed terms that would see the lawsuit resolved.

Hospital's poor radiation safety protocols led to cancer 'cluster' among staff, rad tech claims

The technologist, who was diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma in 2023, says she previously took her concerns to leadership, but her claims were not taken seriously.

FTC shuts down alleged health insurance fraud scheme involving the sale of low-quality plans

The owners of several telemarketing companies, along with the organizations themselves, have been named as defendants in a federal lawsuit. The Federal Trade Commission alleges that the group would sell bundled services as supposed “PPO” plans, leaving patients to discover that services were not covered.

court brain scan legal gavel lawsuit malpractice judge

New case law could put radiologists on hook for imaging-order appropriateness

“Radiologists should exercise caution when implementing...protocoling workﬂows that bypass independent radiologist review," one expert writes in the American Journal of Roentgenology.