A physician is suing his former employer and its principals, alleging wrongful discharge when he says he refused to cover up a patient’s cause of death to keep the practice free of liability.
Dr. Bino Oommen filed a lawsuit July 29 in Cook County Circuit Court against Glen Health and Home Management Inc., Brentwood North Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre Inc., Sydney Glenner, Joshua Ray, and Philip Thompson, alleging unlawful employment practice in the July incident.
The suit states Oommen worked for the defendant, Glen Health and Home Management, as a corporate medical adviser. According to the filing, the Brentwood facility failed to implement a care plan based on the plaintiff’s fall risk assessment of a patient. When the patient, Harry Cavicchioni, fell and was hospitalized June 21, he was diagnosed with an acute subdural hematoma and died July 6, the suit says.
The lawsuit states Thompson falsified the cause of death to the Lake County Coroner’s Office, classifying it as heart disease and dementia instead of injury from the fall. Oommen reported both to the coroner and to investigators July 7 that staff had failed to properly supervise the patient.
The suit says Thompson attempted to bribe Oommen on July 8 in an effort to cover up the cause of death and when the plaintiff refused, the defendants allegedly revoked his hospital privileges and terminated his position.
The suit includes a transcript of Oommen’s conversation with Thompson.
The plaintiff alleges violation of the Illinois Whistleblower Act forbidding retaliatory discharge for an employee’s refusal to participate in any activity that would constitute a violation of law. The act provides for reinstatement, back pay, and compensation for damages. The plaintiff alleges lost earnings, distress, humiliation and damage to his reputation.
Oommen seeks judgment in excess of the minimum jurisdictional amount, attorney and expert witness fees, plus costs. He is represented by attorney Brian Spencer of Spencer Law Offices in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 2015L007699.