Since Atiq Durrani, MD fled the country after an investigation into wrongful spine surgeries he performed, the fugitive surgeon and the Cincinnati Children's Hospital have been named in hundreds of lawsuits, according to 1011 Now.
However, the spine surgeon's former boss and current president of Children's Hospital in Omaha, Neb., Richard Azizkah, MD, will also be included as a defendant in the 528 lawsuits. Dr. Azizkah was among Dr. Durrani's bosses at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Many surgeons at the Children's Hospital in Omaha are facing scrutiny following the trials. Most recently, two physicians filed a lawsuit against the hospital, alleging they were subject to retaliation for questioning the competency of another surgeon.
Prior to the news breaking about the retaliation lawsuit, 10 Children's Hospital surgeons resigned. Children's Hospital in Omaha, is supporting Dr. Azizkah. In a statement to WOWT the hospital said, "Children's Hospital & Medical Center does not comment on pending litigation other than to say we strongly disagree with these allegations. We stand behind our executive leadership, medical team and our processes, and are confident that these claims against our hospital, Dr. Azizkhan and Dr. Conley will be proven to be without merit."