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.

Thumbnail

Morgue manager at Harvard Medical School gets 8 years for selling the deceased

Cedric Lodge, 58, pleaded guilty in May for his role in procuring human organs and tissue for sale on an interstate black market. His wife, Denise Lodge, was sentenced to one year for collaborating. The couple sold organs out of their home in New Hampshire, prosecutors said. 

statue justice legal verdict malpractice case lawsuit scale

Women drugged, raped by cardiologist file lawsuit against online dating apps

In 2024, a Denver cardiologist was sentenced to 158 years to life in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women he met through online dating apps. Six of his victims have now filed a civil lawsuit that claims the apps are “hospitable to serial predators.”

cybersecurity hacker ransomware cyber data breach

Cyberattack on member-owned healthcare payer ends in $3.5M settlement

The January 2024 incident at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin had all of the hallmarks of a ransomware attack, with an unknown cybercrime group taking credit in a letter to the payer. In total, 533,000 people were impacted by the data breach.

doctor in handcuffs after being arrested

Cardiologist dies in fire after arrest for child sex abuse materials

On Dec. 11, the Alaskan cardiologist was captured as part of a months-long investigation and charged with 10 counts of possessing child sexual abuse materials. The fire at his home occurred two days later.

passport visa foreign international travel

California leads coalition of 20 states suing Trump over $100K H-1B visa policy

The plaintiffs argue that the administration has overstepped its authority and that only Congress can levy such hefty fees. As noted in the lawsuit, healthcare relies on skilled labor immigration to bring doctors, nurses and researchers into the country. 

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).

Two pediatricians sue nonprofit health system for wrongful termination after alleged patient safety incidents

Lauren Beene, MD, and Valerie Fouts-Fowler, MD, allege in a lawsuit that Ohio-based University Hospitals fired them for expressing concerns through a chat app. The health system accused the duo of misusing internal communications for personal gain. 

statue justice legal verdict malpractice case lawsuit scale

Class action lawsuit claims imaging agent developer Telix Pharmaceuticals misled investors

Alleged transgressions took place between February and August, including the FDA rejecting Telix’s application for a new brain cancer imaging agent. 

money court scale of justice ruling legal settlement

Connecticut hospital hit with $32M judgment after cow-based formula linked to infant’s death

Yale New Haven failed to notify parents about the use of the cow-based formula, which they expressly asked staff not to use. A judge found that the hospital failed to stock a human alternative, known to be safer for premature newborns.