Finally, a Kaiser doctor, oncologist Jennifer Lycette, speaks out about doctors forced to allow harm to patients to increase profits

"...Lycette’s suit states, however, that she became troubled by new Kaiser policies after [executive Jeffrey] Weisz was brought in.

"Among her other complaints, her suit alleges she expressed concerns about a ban on referring patients to non-Kaiser specialists or clinical trials outside of Kaiser -- even though doing so would be in the best interests of patients.

"She resigned in April 2013, because of her oath to do no harm and her belief that Kaiser policies were "making patients suffer," her suit states.

"According to the website for Oregon Health & Science University, Lycette relocated to Astoria and is now working at OHSU's Cancer Care Center at Columbia Memorial Hospital..."

Former oncologist claims Kaiser Permanente pushed profits over patient care, files $7 million lawsuit
Aimee Green
Oregon Live
April 23, 2014

A former oncologist at Kaiser Permanente is suing the health care company for $7 million, claiming she had no choice but to quit her job after complaining the organization was maximizing profits to the detriment of cancer patients.

Dr. Jennifer Lycette claims quality of care took a nosedive when Northwest Permanente Medical Group hired Jeffrey Weisz as its president and executive medical director in 2011. Weisz had previously worked for Kaiser in Southern California.

"During Dr. Weisz's tenure (in California), he established a reputation as a ruthless administrator who found ways to minimize payrolls by shrinking staff while patient loads skyrocketed, often leaving the remaining staff members trying to cope with impossible patient demands which ultimately harmed Kaiser's patients," reads Lycette's lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

In an email statement, Kaiser spokesman Michael Foley said, "The care needs of our members, patients, and customers come first. Allegations that claim otherwise are not supported by fact.

"We're reviewing the lawsuit that was filed," he addied, "and will address its inaccurate allegations through the judicial process."

The suit was filed by Lake Oswego attorney Roderick Boutin.

Lycette's suits claims that during a November 2012 meeting, Weisz ordered Kaiser's Portland oncologists to cram an initial consultation and bone-marrow biopsy of patients -- something that should take two to 2.5 hours and be done over two visits -- into one, 60-minute visit. Lycette’s suit states pain medication that must be taken orally takes 30 to 60 minutes to kick in, so a 60-minute visit would leave patients rushed and in pain.

Lycette "openly and respectfully voiced her concerns," and Weisz responded by shouting at Lycette in "a very angry and threatening manner," her suit states.

Lycette's suit also claims she complained in April 2012 to the then-chief of medical oncology, Nagendra Tirumali, about understaffing. She says patients were struggling to schedule appointments and some chemotherapy patients were only seeing their regular oncologist every two or three months.

Tirumali responded that Lycette was being “emotional,” according to a copy of an email attached to the suit. Lycette’s suit characterizes Tirumali's response as a "veiled attack" on her gender. Her suit states she later asked Tirumali whether he would have accused a man of being "emotional" over the issue of understaffing.

Lycette, 40, worked for Kaiser for about seven years -- from 2006 until she resigned in spring 2013 -- at its Interstate medical offices in North Portland and Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, according to her suit. Her suit states she had the highest patient satisfaction rating, 89 percent, in her department.

Lycette’s suit alleges that before taking the job in 2006, she asked several Kaiser doctors if they thought they could care for patients without feeling that financial overhead compromised care. They assured her they could, the suit states.

Lycette’s suit states, however, that she became troubled by new Kaiser policies after Weisz was brought in.

Among her other complaints, her suit alleges she expressed concerns about a ban on referring patients to non-Kaiser specialists or clinical trials outside of Kaiser -- even though doing so would be in the best interests of patients.

She resigned in April 2013, because of her oath to do no harm and her belief that Kaiser policies were "making patients suffer," her suit states.

According to the website for Oregon Health & Science University, Lycette relocated to Astoria and is now working at OHSU's Cancer Care Center at Columbia Memorial Hospital.

Lycette is seeking $2 million in economic damages and $5 million in non-economic damages.