Lawsuit Alleges Medical Center Risked Patient Safety

Watch the Press Conference Here

A press conference held by MLG provided details of a whistleblower case in which the former chief of staff of Corona Medical Center alleges Universal Health Services, Inc.’s focus on profit interfered with physicians’ ability to provide patient care and ensure patient safety.

McCune Law Group founder and managing partner Richard McCune presented the basis of the firm’s claims against Universal Health Services, Inc. with Dr. Aimee French. Watch the recorded livestream here:

Allegations of Corporate Interference in Patient Care

The lawsuit claims that Universal Health Services, Inc., which owns hundreds of medical centers across the U.S., including four in the Inland Empire, actively obstructed Dr. French and other dedicated physicians in their efforts to ensure patient safety. Key allegations include:

  • Interference in the removal of incompetent physicians.
  • Allowing unqualified individuals to perform surgical functions.
  • Unauthorized granting of staff privileges by non-physicians.
  • Retaliation against physicians who resisted corporate interference. 
  • Discrimination and harassment of female staff, followed by retaliation when reported. 

Further Allegations Against Universal Health Services, Inc.

Universal Health Services is a Fortune 500 corporation that owns hundreds of medical centers in the United States, including Corona Medical Center and three other Inland Empire hospitals. Dr. Aimee French claims in her lawsuit that she and other physicians were placed in “guardrail” positions which tasked them with protecting the medical center’s independence against corporate interference. Dr. French alleges that she and her colleagues were then obstructed in their efforts to perform this regulatory function. The suit claims that Dr. French and others were prevented from investigating and removing physicians who compromised patient care.; Dr. French also alleges she and other physicians were hindered in their attempts to stop a dangerous practice which allowed non-licensed and unqualified family members to perform surgical functions in operating rooms. The suit also alleges that Dr. French’s dedicated efforts to halt corporate retaliation against those who resisted corporate interference were ultimately met with retaliation against Dr. French herself. Additionally, Dr. French asserts the former CEO and others engaged in discriminatory and harassing behavior toward female staff, followed by retaliation when the misconduct was reported.

The attorneys at McCune Law Group consider this case to be significant not only for its impact on the Inland Empire community, which has been served by Dr. French for over a decade, but also for what it reveals about the consequences of allowing corporate interests to dominate healthcare spaces. In Dr. French’s case, we see the potentially devastating effects of putting profit margins above people. We also see how far committed doctors will go to protect their patients.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was discussed during the press conference which took place on August 28?

The press conference held on August 28 provided detailed insights into the whistleblower case brought by Dr. Aimee French against Universal Health Services, Inc. McCune Law Group founder and managing partner Richard McCune, along with Dr. French, presented the basis of the firm’s claims against UHS. The press conference expanded on the key allegations, including corporate interference in patient care, the unauthorized performance of surgical functions by unqualified individuals, and retaliation against physicians and staff.

Dr. Aimee French, the former Chief of Staff at Corona Medical Center, has filed a lawsuit against Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS), alleging that the company’s focus on profit interfered with physicians’ ability to provide patient care and ensure patient safety. The lawsuit claims that UHS, a Fortune 500 corporation owning hundreds of medical centers across the U.S., including four in the Inland Empire, actively obstructed Dr. French and other dedicated physicians in their efforts to maintain patient safety.

Dr. French alleges that Universal Health Services obstructed her and other physicians from investigating and removing incompetent physicians who compromised patient care. The lawsuit also claims that UHS permitted non-licensed and unqualified family members to perform surgical functions in operating rooms, thereby endangering patient safety. Additionally, UHS is accused of granting staff privileges to physicians without the proper screening process and retaliating against those who opposed such corporate interference by canceling physician contracts, in addition to other retaliatory actions.

The lawsuit filed by Dr. French includes allegations of discrimination and harassment, particularly against female staff members at Corona Medical Center. Dr. French asserts that the former CEO of UHS and others engaged in discriminatory and harassing behavior toward female staff. When these incidents were reported, the staff members who came forward were met with retaliation, further exacerbating the hostile work environment.

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