Legal News

Stories about physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in lawsuits—as either a plaintiff or a defendantor accused of breaking the law. Various legal updates or unusual stories in the news may land here.

Medical societies are asking Congress to be involved in Medicare reform efforts.

Government watchdog takes up FDA recall inquiry following report

The reporting detailed Philips' delay in issuing a recall of its breathing machines, drawing the ire of two U.S. Senators who have been pushing for an investigation into how the FDA handles oversight.

January 18, 2024
Questions

Dead prisoner’s heart still missing as his family seeks answers

The heart of a 43-year-old prisoner is still missing nearly eight weeks after he was found dead at Ventress Correctional Facility in Alabama. A judge heard from five witnesses on Jan. 5, but made little progress on solving the mystery.

January 8, 2024
Judge bangs gavel

Fraud charges against cardiologist dismissed after 8-year legal battle

The veteran interventional cardiologist was initially sentenced to five years in prison for healthcare fraud. After multiple appeals and some significant updates, however, he was granted a new trial. 

January 5, 2024
healthcare money economics dollar stethoscope acquire merger

Philips-owned BioTelemetry to pay nearly $15M for allegedly misleading clinicians to secure higher reimbursements

The company and one of its subsidiaries would allegedly confuse clinicians and have them bill government programs for cardiac monitoring services that were more expensive than what they needed. This settlement resolves those allegations. 

December 20, 2023
maya kowalski johns hopkins trial

Did ‘Maya’ juror call Hopkins witness a Nazi—or did Hopkins lawyers smear a good juror?

To their reasons for seeking a retrial in the Maya Kowalski case, attorneys for Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida have added a juror’s possibly mischievous and bias-revealing courtroom notes.

December 19, 2023
doctor in handcuffs after being arrested

Cardiologist charged with fraud for allegedly altering patient records, billing for unnecessary procedures

The doctor allegedly targeted some patients more than ten times, treating them again and again with procedures that were not medically necessary. 

December 15, 2023
fired kaiser permanente nurse wins lawsuit

Fired nurse wins $41.5M wrongful termination lawsuit

Former Kaiser Permanente nurse Maria Gatchalian will receive $11.49 million in compensatory damages from her ex-employer, $9 million of which is to make amends for emotional distress, along with some $30 million in punitive damages.

December 14, 2023
Medical malpractice gavel diagnostic error mistake stethoscope

Medical malpractice ruling: Hospital to pay $39M over young heart patient’s death

Prosecutors successfully argued that the patient would not have died if clinicians had ordered a routine CT exam. 

December 13, 2023