Physician Dr. Raheel Jiwan, MD, filed a lawsuit against Fairfield, Iowa-based Jefferson County Health Center, alleging he was terminated for raising patient safety complaints, the Southwest Iowa Union reported Feb. 7.
Dr. Jiwan alleges he was fired from the health center in August for filing complaints with the Iowa Board of Medicine and the Drug Enforcement Administration about other physicians working at the center. He raised concerns that included a hospital policy that requires emergency room physicians to be responsible for emergency department patients and general hospital patients.
He also alleges a physician was prescribing "extremely high and alarming amounts of opioids and other controlled substances, including but not limited to benzodiazepines," according to the report.
According to the suit, Dr. Jiwan was never subjected to disciplinary actions or warnings before his termination.
"Jefferson County Health Center has been notified of Dr. Raheel Jiwan’s lawsuit against JCHC," CEO Bryan Hunger said in a statement to the Union. "Though we are early in the process, JCHC strongly disagrees with Dr. Jiwan's claims. JCHC is committed to our values of compassion; integrity; accountability/ownership; service; pride and excellence in all we do to support our valued patients and outstanding team of providers and staff."