Former patients of Medical Center of Southeast Texas cancer center have been unable to obtain their medical records after the clinic abruptly closed in April 2018, local news affiliate KBMT reports.
Radiation oncologist Tripp Chaudhury, MD, ran the private cancer patient practice in Port Arthur, Texas, which he says closed over a dispute regarding necessary repairs after the facility was damaged by Hurricane Harvey last year. Dr. Chaudhury claims Dallas-based Steward Health Care, the parent organization of the hospital and cancer center, shut down the practice in April without any notice, according to the report.
However, a hospital spokesperson refuted Dr. Chaudhury's claims in a statement provided to KBMT.
"This [physician] was a tenant in a building owned by Steward Health Care, and is also party to an ongoing lawsuit for non-payment of rent," the spokesperson said. "Any allegation by Dr. Chaudhury or his three patients that Steward Health Care closed a cancer center without notice is absolutely false."
The hospital also denied Dr. Chaudhury's claims that he doesn't have any access to his practice's medical records, which he said are locked in the facility and that the hospital can't open the building. Dr. Chaudhury told the network he wants to get access to his patients' medical records to ensure they get the necessary and correct treatments.
The hospital claims all the medical equipment and health records belong to Dr. Chaudhury, and the spokesperson added "For anyone to use medical patients as PR props in hopes of gaining leverage in a separate lawsuit is reprehensible."