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.

State sues AI company after bot impersonates doctor
The digital entity gave at least one end-user a phony medical-license number. Unfortunately for the chatbot, that end-user was a state investigator.
Hospitals sue Anthem over policy prohibiting use of out-of-network radiologists
Anthem defended the policy in response to the lawsuit, contending patients shouldn’t have to worry about surprise medical bills when visiting in-network hospitals.
Maggot therapy? Wrongful termination lawsuit claims nursing home had a severe sanitation problem
Boca Raton Rehabilitation Center called claims made in the lawsuit by a former employee, Nuella Joseph, “unsubstantiated.” Joseph, a nurse, said the facility has a cleanliness problem that led to bug infestations in resident rooms.
DOJ unveils West Coast ‘Strike Force’ as new tactic used to tackle healthcare fraud
Federal authorities said the shift to regional “Strike Force” models has proven successful, with 6,200 defendants prosecuted nationwide. The DOJ said this latest unit will take a special interest in Northern California.
Radiologists among physician specialists facing higher risk of being sued, AMA says
About 38% of rads surveyed said they had defended against at least one lawsuit, with such specialists at a higher risk than others in internal medicine.

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.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of New York sued over ‘ghost networks’

Thousands of patients have filed a class-action lawsuit against the insurer for issuing directories of providers who were out-of-network and did not take BCBS health plans.

Legal News

State sues AI company after bot impersonates doctor

Hospitals sue Anthem over policy prohibiting use of out-of-network radiologists

Maggot therapy? Wrongful termination lawsuit claims nursing home had a severe sanitation problem

DOJ unveils West Coast ‘Strike Force’ as new tactic used to tackle healthcare fraud

Radiologists among physician specialists facing higher risk of being sued, AMA says