Secret Settlements Can Keep Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Doctors Hushed Up
Two cases at the renowned Cleveland Clinic are examples of how confidential settlements cover up misconduct in the health industry.
USA Today:
Confidential Deals Can Obscure Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Doctors As Cleveland Clinic Case Shows
The Cleveland Clinic, one of the nation's largest and most renowned hospitals, knew of at least two cases in which one of its surgeons was accused of raping patients but kept him on the staff while reaching a confidential settlement, a USA TODAY investigation has found. Ryan Williams, a colorectal surgeon accused in police reports by two women of anally raping them in 2008 and 2009, left Cleveland Clinic last summer for another hospital, which placed him on leave after learning of the complaints against him. (O'Donnell, 1/5)
In other news on health care personnel —
Modern Healthcare:
ACP Launches Initiative To Target Physician Burnout
The American College of Physicians is launching an initiative to improve doctor job satisfaction, hoping that will help curb the tide of clinicians leaving the field due to burnout. The organization's new "Physician Well-being and Professional Satisfaction" initiative aims to promote wellness by providing clinicians with educational tools to help reduce the impact of several job-related stressors, such as the burden of administrative tasks, poor work-life balance, patient overload and pressures to reduce health costs. (Johnson, 1/4)
