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.

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Radiologist reprimanded after writing hundreds of problematic prescriptions

The doctor is accused of doling out dozens drugs such as opioids to herself, friends, family and other acquaintances between 2014 and 2024.

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High-level briefing: Sex change-backer wins $2M verdict | Must-knows for healthcare CEOs | Life expectancy up | Vociferous nurses revisited

A malpractice lawsuit filed by a gender detransitioner ended Jan. 30 with a victory for the aggrieved former patient. The decision may set a generalizable precedent since this was the first such suit to reach a courtroom—and since 30 or so others are en route. 

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Lawsuits filed over allegations of dirty surgical tools, patient infections and defamation

A surgeon and a medical device representative accuse Portneuf Medical Center of failing to address an ongoing problem with contaminated surgical tools that left patients with serious infections.

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Legal eagles forecast 3 healthcare AI trends to eyeball in 2026 and beyond

Heated tension between state and federal AI regulators is coming, predict two attorneys subspecialized in AI startup success, data privacy and cybersecurity.

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Georgia jury sides with radiologist in negligence case

The rad was accused of writing a “confusing” report that allegedly had long-lasting implications for the plaintiff's child, who was born with severe birth defects. 

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After third conviction, ‘fake nurse' finally gets 75 months in prison

The U.S. Department of Justice said Leticia Gallarzo, 51, most recently pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft in Oct. 2023, but she skipped town and was able to get employment as a nurse and physician assistant in Illinois and California before being caught.

Las Vegas

Patient claims his eye doctor aggressively pursued and drugged him for a Las Vegas wedding

According to a report from Myrtle Beach Online, a lawsuit has been filed accusing the optometrist of emotional manipulation and domestic abuse. The complaint comes after she filed for divorce. 

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Express Scripts considering settlement with FTC to resolve insulin pricing dispute, filing reveals

The Federal Trade Commission said it's seeking a resolution with Cigna, the parent company of the pharmacy benefit manager. The agency filed an antitrust complaint against Express Scripts, Optum Rx and CVS Caremark in 2024, alleging the "Big Three" PBMs use anticompetitive tactics to control the insulin supply chain within their vertical.