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.

Lehigh Valley Health Network to pay $65M after nudes of patients leaked online

The nudes were taken along with medical records during a February 2023 hack by BlackCat, a notorious ransomware syndicate.

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Steward paid $719M dividend to private equity owner prior to bankruptcy

The 2016 payout totaled $770 million, with $71 million going to executives at Steward Health Care. That year, the hospital chain reported a net loss of $300 million. 

Vintage neon drug sign at the Walgreens pharmacy on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans.

Walgreens settles opioid case with Baltimore; three lawsuits still pending

Baltimore sued eight companies that it claimed profited off the city’s opioid epidemic. To date, the government has received $402.5 million in settlements. 

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Yale settles lawsuit over nurse replacing fentanyl with saline

A group of 95 women sued the university’s fertility clinic for failing to secure controlled substances, resulting in them having to endure egg extractions without pain relief. 

Stock image of an illegal bribe.

Whistleblower claims executives at Steward Health Care bragged about illegal bribes

In a complaint submitted to Congress, a healthcare executive in Malta is making serious accusations against Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre.

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Bill to regulate private equity passes California legislature, heads to Newsom’s desk

Governor Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bill, which gives the attorney general oversight over private equity buyouts in healthcare.

Nationwide chain of mental health centers accused of unlawfully imprisoning patients

A New York Times report said Acadia Healthcare indefinitely detained patients to extract insurance payouts.

Disturbing new details emerge, but murder of LA doctor remains a mystery

Hamid Mirshojae, MD, 61 was fatally shot by a lone gunman outside of his urgent care practice on Aug. 23. Police said it wasn't the first time he was assaulted, and Mirshojae had been afraid for his life.

Around the web

When drugs are on the FDA’s shortage list, outsourcing facilities can produce their own compounded versions. When the FDA removed tirzepatide from that list with no warning, it created a considerable amount of chaos both behind the scenes and in pharmacies all over the country. 

If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation. 

Cardiologists and other physicians may soon need to provide much more information when ordering remote patient monitoring for Medicare patients.

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