The former director of imaging at Dukes Memorial Hospital in Peru, Ind., has apologized for using a fake identity to torment employees of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network on Facebook, according to The Journal Gazette.
In a letter to the editor, Craig Sorg admitted he used an anonymous Facebook account and the pseudonym "Sajin Young" to publish "offensive and disparaging statements regarding Lutheran Health Network and some of its employees." The public apology was part of a settlement Lutheran and its parent company, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, reached with Mr. Sorg.
In a lawsuit filed in 2017, Lutheran Health Network and CHS alleged LHN's former CEO Brian Bauer and a Facebook poster who used the alias "Sajin Young" defamed CHS to disrupt the company's business. They were accused of spreading misinformation to drive down LHN's value.
Although Mr. Sorg admitted to creating the "Sajin Young" account, it is unclear how many people contributed to the posts. The account was also used to harass Lutheran Health Network CEO Mike Poore.
"The life of a family in the healthcare industry comes with many unseen stresses and sacrifices; added to that for my family is also caring for a special needs child. It was beyond my realm of comprehension to imagine that my family and I, along with other colleagues and their families, would ever be targets of stalking, harassment and intimidation," Mr. Poore told The Journal Gazette.
"I feel the attacks by Mr. Sorg were nothing short of cruel. I would never wish this on anyone," he said. "I hope we can move forward with a spirit of unity as a community dedicated to the care and well-being of all who call Fort Wayne home."
In addition to entering a settlement with Mr. Sorg, Lutheran Health Network and CHS recently settled their lawsuit against Mr. Bauer. He served as CEO of LHN from 2013 until he was fired in June 2017.
More articles on legal and regulatory issues:
2 former Georgia hospital CEOs fight criminal charges in kickback case
13 latest healthcare industry lawsuits, settlements
Atrium settles antitrust lawsuit over health plan contracts: 6 things to know