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.

Baylor, others paying $15M over DOJ allegations they ‘gambled’ with heart patient health

According to a whistleblower, multiple Texas healthcare providers put complex heart surgeries in the hands of unqualified trainees without proper supervision. The $15M being recovered is the largest amount ever for a case of this kind.

Optum settles improper opioid prescription accusations for $20M

The UnitedHealth Group subsidiary has not admitted any wrongdoing but said it has improved protocols for monitoring controlled substances.

Former Microsoft employee arrested for stealing 1.2M patient records

A former employee at Nuance Communications, a Microsoft subsidiary, stands accused of taking patient data from Geisinger Health system shortly after their termination.

Steward Health Care deployed spy outfits to thwart critics

The failing health system allegedly hired intelligence firms that put a tracking device on a car, accessed a personal smartphone to find lurid information on an executive and attempted to frame a politician for bribery.

DOJ arrests 193 during nationwide crackdown on $2.75B in healthcare scams

The arrests include doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals accused of various schemes to defraud patients, insurers and Medicare.

Federal judge strikes down HHS ban on tracking cookies

Providers argued the HHS overstepped its regulatory authority. A federal court in Texas agreed.

Hospital staffer awarded $10M in discrimination, defamation lawsuit

The lawsuit claimed Stanford Health Care had a systemic pattern of racism, including a staffer dressing as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Tesla-crashing radiologist probably headed for therapy rather than incarceration

The radiologist accused of deliberately driving himself and his family over a rocky California cliff in a Tesla won’t be going to trial.

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