Legal News

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

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Minnesota investigates nonprofit hospital’s use of illegal noncompete contracts

Such contract provisions are illegal in the state. However, doctors at Aspirus Health’s St. Luke’s Hospital said they’re being pressured to sign contract renewals with noncompete clauses under threat of termination.

UnitedHealthcare HQ Sign

Hospital system sues UnitedHealth over ‘denied, delayed’ Medicare Advantage reimbursement

Tennessee-based Ballad Health said it's tried for years to resolve the issues with the insurer but now has 'no choice' but to take legal action, as denied claims are leading to longer hospital stays and higher expenses.

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Cardiology leader, a ’40 under 40’ winner, arrested for leaving baby on beach

Both parents were arrested for neglect and then released the next day after posting a $1,000 bond. The child was unharmed.

An Illinois appellate judge upheld a pervious trial victory that cleared and central Illinois cardiologist Amit Dande, MD, and Prairie Cardiovascular Consults LLP of alleged misdiagnosis of the severity of a patient's heart condition that led to his death prior to a schedule percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Judge files lawsuit over husband’s death—alleges heart symptoms were mismanaged

The patient reported chest pain multiple times and had a family history of heart disease. According to the lawsuit, however, he was never referred to a cardiologist. 

nurses and AI

New Mexico woman is latest accused of impersonating RN in growing crackdown

The woman has not been officially charged, but her case has been turned over to prosecutors after state regulators allegedly discovered she used someone else's license number to obtain work.

Ransomware Cyberattack Data Breach

$30M settlement reached in data breach affecting 2.4M patients

The ransomware attack on Integris Health, a nonprofit health system in Oklahoma, happened in late 2023. Victims of the breach said they were extorted by hackers directly.

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Judge blocks Trump's shutdown layoffs—1,200 HHS workers spared for now

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston said the firings appear to be politically motivated and may exceed the authority of the executive branch. She sided against the Trump administration, issuing a temporary restraining order to stop 4,200 federal employees from being fired. 

State law change allows technologists to administer contrast under remote supervision

The update eliminates the requirement for a physician to be on-site and now allows techs to perform venipuncture and conduct contrast administration under remote supervision.