A New York physician is suing her former employer South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for decades of discrimination, according to an April 4 news report from Patch.
Leigh Ann Hutchinson, MD, is an electrophysiologist who is alleging the discrimination she faced at the Northwell Health hospital resulted in a yearly income loss of roughly $900,000 since 2004.
Dr. Hutchinson first joined South Shore in 1999 before becoming the founder and director of the hospital's electrophysiology lab. The impact on her income began after she was placed under hospital review following the death of a patient after surgery in July 2004, the report said.
Both the hospital panel and one convened by Dr. Hutchinson found Dr. Hutchinson's actions complied with hospital policy, and the hospital placed her on a three-month probation. However, the lawsuit alleges the hospital continued to block her from performing non-complex procedures after the probation period ended.
Dr. Hutchinson, the only Black electrophysiologist at the hospital, filed a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination in 2021 with the New York State Division of Human Rights.
A Northwell representative issued a statement on the lawsuit to Patch, saying "Northwell Health nurtures a culture that supports equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, where every team member and patient is treated with dignity and respect and feels welcomed, valued and heard. As this matter is in active litigation, it is our policy not to comment regarding the allegations."