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.

Jury finds PeaceHealth, ER doctor not liable for misdiagnosing patient’s stroke
After a three week trial, a jury found that PeaceHealth and Ralph Weiche, MD, acted in accordance with medical protocols in diagnosing Patricia Parker with a psychiatric condition, given her unusual symptoms.
DOJ announces 324 arrests in $14.6B healthcare fraud crackdown
Of those arrested, 96 are doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. All face charges related to telehealth prescriptions, illegal opioid distribution and fraudulent billing practices.
4 cybersecurity best practices for radiology groups
Digitization of exams has made the imaging industry a “prime target” for cybercriminals, experts wrote recently in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Radiologists will pay $810,000 to settle allegations they performed hundreds of unnecessary procedures
Oscar Sosa, MD, and Osmany DeAngelo, DO, vehemently deny the allegations but chose to settle to avoid costly and protracted litigation.
Caremark dealt a $95 million blow for violating the False Claims Act
In a decision issued Wednesday, a judge ruled that Caremark had persuaded insurers to intentionally mislead the government regarding prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries.

Kentucky AG launches criminal probe after conscious man nearly has organs harvested

Three years ago Anthony Hoover was declared brain dead—until he woke up on the operating room table, moments before his organs were removed. His story has spurred a criminal investigation by Kentucky's attorney general.

New Orleans cardiologist accused of sexually assaulting patients

The 63-year-old doctor was arrested on charges of sexual battery, battery and simple assault on Oct. 30.

cleveland clinic settles for failing to disclose research funding

Radiologist seeks $8M in lawsuit alleging retaliation after he blew whistle against peers

Layne Tarbox, MD, and his attorney filed the complaint Oct. 28, alleging a husband-wife pair of rads engaged in fraud at one of the Pacific Northwest's largest medical groups.

Hackers were inside an Iowa hospital’s network for two weeks

St. Anthony Regional Hospital confirmed patient data was taken by cybercriminals, but the August incident is still being investigated.

Pharmacy fined $39M for fraud after 7-day trial

Florida-based Assured RX was found to be complicit in billing a Connecticut health plan $10M, sending kickbacks to co-conspirators who formerly worked for the state.

Practice can be held liable for deadly on-call interventional radiologist delay, appeals court rules

A 63-year-old man visited the Saint Vincent ED in Worcester, Mass., but was told he couldn't receive a crucial IR service for three days, with no available specialist on hand.

Cardiologist receives 158 years to life in prison for drugging, sexually assaulting multiple women

“You hurt our society," the judge said as he announced the sentencing in front of a packed courtroom. "It is a darker place because of you.”

Feds make it official: Change data breach was the largest in healthcare history, impacting 100M

Updated reporting from HHS shows UnitedHealth Group's estimate that roughly one-third of people in the U.S. would be affected was correct.

Legal News

Jury finds PeaceHealth, ER doctor not liable for misdiagnosing patient’s stroke

DOJ announces 324 arrests in $14.6B healthcare fraud crackdown

4 cybersecurity best practices for radiology groups

Radiologists will pay $810,000 to settle allegations they performed hundreds of unnecessary procedures

Caremark dealt a $95 million blow for violating the False Claims Act