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.

Over a dozen lawsuits claim Ozempic and Wegovy caused patients to go blind
The lawsuits, filed in multiple states, contend there's a causal link between semaglutide and a rare condition called NAION that leads to diminished eyesight. Plaintiffs want the popular weight-loss drugs to add a warning label.
Nursing homes fined $15M for staffing fraud after guilty verdict
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the judgment, which was issued against two facilities in Pennsylvania. The nursing homes fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for working hours despite staff not being on the floor.
Patient sues surgeon and Allina Health for allegedly removing the wrong organ during surgery
In court documents, an unnamed Minnesota woman said that in 2022, she was admitted to an Allina Health hospital and scheduled for the removal of her infected spleen, only for an error to result in her left kidney being removed instead.
Lavish kickback scandal costs California health system $32M
Community Health System and Physician Network Advantage, an affiliated technology consultancy firm, were accused of bribing physicians for patient referrals in the form of paid vacations, expensive gifts and business meetings held at strip clubs.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech ordered to pay $147M for antitrust violations
The company told Cardiovascular Business it respectfully disagrees with the jury's decision and is evaluating all possible legal options going forward. The Association of Medical Device Reprocessors, meanwhile, celebrated the news.

Trump signs executive order to withdraw U.S. from the World Health Organization

The President made good on a campaign promise to leave the international health agency, after attempting to do so when he last held office in 2020.

Vintage neon drug sign at the Walgreens pharmacy on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.

DOJ sues Walgreens for allegedly filling ‘millions’ of illegal prescriptions

Walgreens filed a countersuit, accusing the federal government of failing to take down prescribers acting unlawfully.

Medicare Advantage Part C clipboard payment

Another insurer sues CMS over star ratings, citing contractor error

Alignment Health is accusing CMS and a third-party contractor of surveying Spanish-speaking members in English and using an "arbitrary" calculation method to reduce the ratings of Medicare Advantage plans.

Patient mixup, coverup results in lawsuit for wrongful death

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center removed the wrong man from life support and hid the mixup from the family for two years, the plaintiffs claim in a court filing.

statue justice legal verdict malpractice case lawsuit scale

Congressional candidate physician sues hospital and doctor for death of father

Some of the claims in the lawsuit, brought against Novant Health by Kyle Horton, MD, are backed by a report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Doctors removed a patient's ovaries without her knowledge or consent, lawsuit claims

Melissa Hubbard says her gynecologist and surgeon decided to remove her ovaries during a colectomy but failed to inform her of their intent. The case’s fate is now in the hands of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

FDA threatens Hologic with punishment for reported errors in making troubled breast device

Concerns stem from manufacturing and distribution of the BioZorb marker, with possible ramifications including "seizure, injunction and civil money penalties."

Court lets lawsuit, alleging radiology group used inferior computer monitors to submit $6M in false claims, continue

The case dates to June 2019 when whistleblower and Arizona-based IT executive Eric Stenson filed suit against Radiology Limited.

Legal News

Over a dozen lawsuits claim Ozempic and Wegovy caused patients to go blind

Nursing homes fined $15M for staffing fraud after guilty verdict

Patient sues surgeon and Allina Health for allegedly removing the wrong organ during surgery

Lavish kickback scandal costs California health system $32M

Johnson & Johnson MedTech ordered to pay $147M for antitrust violations