Medtronic cardiac stents

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that cardiologist Dr. David Gossman has filed a lawsuit against the hospital where he used to work as assistant director of the cardiac catheterization lab.  His suit claims that he was fired from Lahey Clinic near Boston for complaining about inappropriate ties between his hospital’s senior cardiology staff and the medical device company Medtronic.

Dr. Gossman is seeking damages for defamation and violations of the Massachusetts Healthcare Whistleblower Act, a state law that protects health care providers from retaliation for disclosing problems within health care facilities.

The suit claims that two senior cardiologists at the clinic—Dr. Thomas Piemonte, director of interventional cardiology and the cardiac catheterization lab, and Dr. Richard Nesto, chair of the cardiology department—pressured other doctors at the hospital to increase use of Medtronic products. It alleges that Piemonte earns “substantial yearly income” serving on the Medtronic speakers’ bureau and that Piemonte’s wife has had a “lengthy employment” with Medtronic and holds stock in the company.  Continue reading →