Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How doctors took back control from hospital executives

Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD
Physician
June 14, 2025
Share
Tweet
Share

Several decades ago at our local hospital in northern Los Angeles County, an onslaught against doctors began. The administration marginalized and discredited them. It was not due to a lack of medical skill or knowledge, as certain physicians were labeled “troublemakers” and “threats” to health care in our small community.

The chief of staff and I, the chairman of the Department of Medicine, were members of the staff, some of whom were targeted because we were whistleblowers. Consequently, upon learning about the medical staff at a community hospital north of us in the Central Valley facing a similar battle, concerns were raised that this was no coincidence.

Historically, it signified the start of a continuous struggle for hospital physicians’ independence and self-governance in making appropriate medical decisions for their patients, as hospital administrators raised their profits and salaries, which these whistleblowers exposed.

It was also a moment when a team led by a physicians’ advocacy group, along with a state medical association, the national medical association, doctors, and the community came together to stand against a planned attack from a powerful foe.

A Central Valley public hospital was established to serve the primarily farming community of the region. Like our hospital in northern LA County, it built a “tower” of rooms for hospitalized patients and even purchased a “gym” outside the facility for rehab and exercise.

What caught our attention was that the medical staff, like that at our hospital, was self-governing, with a Medical Executive Committee (MEC) that had bylaws and governing rules separate from and independent of the hospital administration. This assured that hospital administrators would not “practice medicine” and take over patient medical decision-making.

The hospital, like all hospitals in California, had a board of directors, along with a CEO and a CFO.

According to a local newspaper report, the hospital’s board of directors dismissed the existing MEC and replaced it with doctors of their choosing, violating state law. This allowed the board to control the newly appointed MEC physicians, negatively impacting medical decision-making for hospitalized patients and thwarting any further whistleblowing.

At that time, the chief of staff and I, concerned about the situation, called the hospital’s chief of staff, whom we did not know, and initiated a meeting in his office with other previous MEC members on a Saturday morning, driving two and a half hours to get there.

At the meeting, we clarified the facts with the MEC doctors, recognizing that it would be complicated, so we contacted a physicians’ advocacy group in San Francisco for assistance.

In the ensuing weeks, following numerous interactive phone calls, we met again with the Central Valley doctors, with the advocacy group attending in full force, including their leadership team.

Strategic plans were outlined, including:

  • A rally
  • Public relations through the local newspaper
  • Community meetings to educate voters about bond and health care board members
  • Highlighting the financial mismanagement of hospital funds

The biggest challenge was obtaining financial backing, as the hospital had a substantial war chest, while the doctors needed to raise funds from the medical staff and the community. That’s when the state and national medical associations stepped in with much-needed funds for legal fees.

ADVERTISEMENT

To stave off legal challenges, the hospital administration declared bankruptcy, closing its doors for several months, which temporarily blocked the doctors. However, the original MEC filed a lawsuit against the hospital administration using funds from the medical associations, which successfully won the case.

The administration was ousted, and the previous MEC was reinstated, allowing the hospital to reorganize and reopen its doors.

Ultimately, grand jury indictments were filed against the hospital administration, along with criminal charges, particularly for the mismanagement of bond funding for the tower.

Fortunately, we live in a state that protects both patients and those who provide their health care.

If the chief of staff and I did not believe it was necessary to drive two and a half hours to uphold the Hippocratic oath and help others, many families in the Central Valley would struggle to access quality health care.

Through the collaborative efforts of the physicians’ advocacy group, doctors, medical associations, and the community, the citizens of the region were empowered to make medical decisions with their doctors, free from interference by the hospital administration.

Many health care professionals continue to raise their fists in the air and advocate for patients’ rights to receive worthy medical care.

I hope our actions, even a decade ago, will inspire more voices to be heard in the future.

Gene Uzawa Dorio is an internal medicine physician who blogs at SCV Physician Report.

Prev

Improving patient encounters: time-saving strategies for physicians [PODCAST]

June 13, 2025 Kevin 0
…
Next

Why health care must adapt to meet the needs of older adults with disabilities

June 14, 2025 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Improving patient encounters: time-saving strategies for physicians [PODCAST]
Next Post >
Why health care must adapt to meet the needs of older adults with disabilities

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

  • Pope Francis dies at 88. What his care reveals about America’s failing hospitals.

    Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD
  • When saving lives leads to losing your own

    Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD
  • The business of medicine: How hospitals are putting profits over patients

    Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

Related Posts

  • Why doctors must fight health misinformation on social media

    Olapeju Simoyan, MD
  • The uncomfortable truths about comfortable scrubs

    Kenzie Whitcomb and Sarah Becker
  • Why prescribing medicine to kids scares even experienced doctors

    Dr. Damane Zehra
  • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

    Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN
  • What doctors need to know about psychedelic medicine

    Lynn Marie Morski, MD, JD
  • September in medicine: scouting season for future doctors

    Stephen J. Foley

More in Physician

  • The unseen burden patients carry between appointments

    Ryan Nadelson, MD
  • My journey to loving primary care again

    Jerina Gani, MD, MPH
  • Why doctors striking may be the most ethical choice

    Patrick Hudson, MD
  • How photos shape drug stigma—and what we can do about it

    Jeffrey Hom, MD, MPH, MSHP
  • From participants to partners: Rethinking clinical trial design

    Robert Den, MD
  • First-name familiarity improves doctor-patient connection

    Ryan Nadelson, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How AI, animals, and ecosystems reveal a new kind of intelligence

      Fateh Entabi, MD | Tech
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • The hidden moral injury behind value-based health care

      Jonathan Bushman, DO | Physician
    • Nurse-initiated protocols for sepsis: a strategic imperative for patient care and hospital operations

      Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Affordable postpartum hemorrhage solutions every OB/GYN should know

      Frank I. Jackson, DO | Conditions
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • How are prostate exams done and why you shouldn’t avoid them

      Martina Ambardjieva, MD, PhD | Conditions
    • Airlines’ policy ignores your do not resuscitate (DNR): Discover why and some ways to protect yourself

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • A dual citizen’s choice between two imperfect systems [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How AI, animals, and ecosystems reveal a new kind of intelligence

      Fateh Entabi, MD | Tech
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • A physician employment agreement term that often tricks physicians

      Dennis Hursh, Esq | Finance
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • The hidden moral injury behind value-based health care

      Jonathan Bushman, DO | Physician
    • Nurse-initiated protocols for sepsis: a strategic imperative for patient care and hospital operations

      Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Affordable postpartum hemorrhage solutions every OB/GYN should know

      Frank I. Jackson, DO | Conditions
    • Why kratom addiction is the next public health crisis

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Meds
    • Why taxing remittances harms families and global health care

      Dalia Saha, MD | Finance
    • How are prostate exams done and why you shouldn’t avoid them

      Martina Ambardjieva, MD, PhD | Conditions
    • Airlines’ policy ignores your do not resuscitate (DNR): Discover why and some ways to protect yourself

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • A dual citizen’s choice between two imperfect systems [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...