The lawsuit was filed by Fahad Nazir against Cook County Health and Hospital Systems in the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District, with the court case ID 1-23-0640 on March 28, 2024. The plaintiff-appellant, Fahad Nazir, is appealing an order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendant-appellee, Cook County Health and Hospital Systems.
Nazir alleged that he faced retaliation and eventual termination from his employment as a pharmacist for raising internal concerns about his duties and responsibilities along with other aspects of the defendant's employment practices. These concerns were raised under the Illinois Whistleblower Act.
The plaintiff further detailed that he was required to administer controlled substances like methadone and suboxone to patients as part of an opioid treatment program, which he believed was not authorized by state law or defendant’s policies. He also made complaints about improper practices within the pharmacy department and violations of patient rights under HIPAA.
Nazir is seeking a reversal of the summary judgment granted in favor of Cook County Health and Hospital Systems. He argues that most of his claims under the Illinois Whistleblower Act were either barred by the applicable statute of limitations or failed on merits. However, one claim that he was improperly suspended without pay is being remanded for further proceedings.