OB-GYN Vernon Cannon, MD, PhD, and his former employer Downers Grove, Ill.-based Duly Health and Care, formerly DuPage Medical Group, were hit with seven misconduct lawsuits brought by patients, according to a Jan. 11 news release shared with Becker's.
Dr. Cannon allegedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a patient and allegedly treated several others while intoxicated, the release said. Duly Health and Care said he has not been with the group since 2020, CBS 2 reported Jan. 11.
"When I had met with him, the [appointment] was brief — as in like five minutes," a former patient told CBS 2 of what was supposed to be a routine prenatal checkup in 2019. "Dilated pupils, slurred speech, wasn't even really making good eye contact with me."
Multiple patient surveys in 2019 raised concerns about his behavior.
"I hope he is not on call when I have my baby," one patient said in a survey response on Jan. 8, 2019. "I would not feel good about it at all."
Five of the complaints against Dr. Cannon were filed Jan. 10, three of which involve alleged intoxication during patient examinations, according to the release. Two earlier lawsuits accused him of sexual assault.
In 2016, he was arrested on charges of domestic battery while intoxicated. Dr. Cannon is also alleged to have engaged in "bizarre behavior" after a patient suffered a stillbirth, the CBS 2 report said.
Duly Health and Care said Cannon has not worked there since 2020, the report said.
"We are aware of new cases alleging misconduct by Dr. Vernon Cannon, a former DMG physician who has not been with the medical group since 2020," a company spokesperson said. "Patient care and safety are our top priorities. We take any and all allegations of misconduct seriously. Due to the nature of these matters and out of respect for the parties involved, we will not comment further on these legal proceedings."