There are now four lawsuits against UC Health system hospitals Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and West Chester Hospital in connection with spine surgeon Atiq Durrani, MD, according to a Cincinnati Business Courier report.
Here are six things to know about the suits:
1. The most recent lawsuit was filed against the hospital on May 29 by Deters Law Firm, which also represents more than 500 plaintiffs in a separate lawsuit against Dr. Durani. The lawsuit against Dr. Durrani alleges he performed medically unnecessary procedures.
2. The lawsuits against the hospitals claim the hospitals knew Dr. Durrani was using devices improperly and didn't intervene, according to the report. Dr. Durrani has been indicted on 46 federal charges associated with both clinical and billing issues. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2013, but fled the country before standing trial last year.
3. Dr. Durrani allegedly used the rhBMP-2 product InFuse in patients younger than 18 years old without the metallic cage at both hospitals, and the two new suits allege the hospitals knowingly allowed the procedures. The two hospitals are accused of fraud, negligence, violating the Ohio Consumer Sales Protection Act and negligent credentialing for Dr. Durrani.
4. The lawsuits seek damages ranging from injuries and punitive damages to costs and attorneys fees.
5. The lawsuit also claims Dr. Durrani allegedly used PureGen outside of the approved clinical trials and the hospitals failed to stop them. Dr. Durrani allegedly had a 40 percent ownership stake in the company providing PureGen.
6. A separate suit field in Butler County alleges the hospitals did not conduct a peer review of Dr. Durrani despite 500 triggers for review being recorded and the hospitals allowed him to perform several surgeries while suspended. He also allegedly performed multiple surgeries at the same time and was allowed to turn in dictation about surgeries late, according to the report.