Children's Hospital and Medical Center filed a response to a lawsuit brought by two former surgeons claiming the Omaha-based hospital retaliated against them for reporting patient safety concerns, WOWT 6 News reports.
Pediatric neurosurgeon Mark Puccioni, MD, and plastic surgeon Jason Miller, MD, claimed in a lawsuit filed earlier this month that they were wrongfully suspended days after reporting concerns about a colleague's competence. The surgeons also alleged that CHMC President and CEO Richard Azizkhan, MD, and the surgeon they filed complaints against — Adam Conley, MD — intentionally tried to destroy their reputations and practices.
The surgeons' attorney said in a statement that "Dr. Miller and Dr. Puccioni complained of absolute malpractice that caused the unnecessary death of a child. Children's had a monetary interest in protecting that physician."
CHMC said in a statement that its response to the surgeons' lawsuit, filed in court Jan. 23, "offers details to categorically deny the baseless accusations made previously by Drs. Miller and Puccioni."
The statement continues:
"We appreciate the patience and support shown by our patients, their families, the community and especially our employees as we developed our responses to these allegations. It takes time to respond appropriately and completely in such a situation.
"For those familiar with the events in question, the unfounded nature of these allegations was clear from the beginning. However, in litigation, patient confidentiality and personnel matters, there are policies and regulations which must be followed that prevent us from sharing information — although we would like that information to be known publicly.
"We appreciate you sharing this information with the community to balance the public conversation that has been, up to this point, directed by the plaintiffs' baseless accusations. We hope this information will reassure patients, families and colleagues that our 70-year foundation of high-quality care and safety never faltered."
Dr. Azizkhan is also linked to 528 lawsuits in Ohio related to former Cincinnati Children's Hospital spine surgeon Atiq Durrani, MD, who fled the country after pleading not guilty to 46 federal charges. Dr. Azizkhan served as surgeon-in-chief at the Cincinnati hospital until 2015.
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