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

A large not-for-profit health system in Ohio is being sued by two of its former pediatricians who claim they were fired for expressing concerns about patient safety. They’re accusing University Hospitals of engaging in wrongful termination.

Lauren Beene, MD, and Valerie Fouts-Fowler, MD, also claim the health system defamed them. In a statement sent to Cleveland.com, Fouts-Fowler said her former employer attempted to silence her and Beene when the duo tried “speaking up and advocating for the very patients we swore an oath to protect.”

They filed their lawsuit on Monday in a country court, the outlet confirmed. 

The story gets a bit complicated may involve labor organizing. According to the report from Cleveland.com, the doctors were part of an advocacy group called “Concerned UH Physicians” that may have been looking to form a union. 

University Hospitals said the doctors were using internal systems to contact other potential members. But the health system declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit.

Beene and Fouts-Fowler contend they were only using the communications to alert doctors to patient safety issues, and that the internal system is a mass text-message program frequently used for outside work social activities, such as inviting staff to parties.

They claim University Hospitals said otherwise in an attempt to damage their reputation. In their lawsuit, the two doctors are seeking damages for lost income and emotional distress.

It’s not clear what the alleged patient care concerns were, or if they’ve been addressed. 

For more, read Cleveland.com‘s full report at the link below.