Nine cancer doctors sue Anne Arundel Medical Center after they say it refuses to renew their

[TexasTowelie]

Nine cancer doctors sue Anne Arundel Medical Center after they say it refuses to renew their hospital privileges


A group of oncologists is suing Anne Arundel Medical Center over claims the hospital fired them and refused to renew their hospital privileges, ostensibly choosing profit over cancer patients’ needs by viewing the doctors as competition, they say.

After presenting a proposal to hospital leaders in early April as a possible solution to financial concerns and “inadequate support of its cancer program,” nine hematology oncologists received a FedEx letter on April 23. Their employment at Anne Arundel Physician Group — a multi-specialty private medical practice owned by AAMC’s parent company, Luminis Health — was terminated, the letter read, according to the lawsuit.

The doctors’ rights to practice medicine at the hospital, known as hospital privileges, were set to expire in coming months as part of their termination. And their applications to renew their privileges were rejected.

Attorneys for Luminis Health rejected the oncologists’ allegations in a legal response.

Todd Reinecker, an attorney for Luminis Health, wrote in response that the nine oncologists quit during the height of the coronavirus pandemic to “pursue lucrative contracts” with a “major pharmaceutical distribution” company. The doctors anticipated Luminis Health would be unable to recruit new physicians and be forced to continue to use their services, he wrote. AAMC quickly hired seven new oncologists to replace the group.

Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/anne-arundel/ac-cn-anne-arundel-medical-center-lawsuit-20210218-z3o7jwdk35cxjeipupbajfwgme-story.html