Why were Drs. Beene and Fouts-Fowler fired from University Hospitals?

The doctors claim they were fired for raising concerns about patient care quality, while the hospital system suggests it was for improper use of a provider app.

What specific patient care issues did the doctors raise at University Hospitals?

They reported understaffing, delayed test results, and a lack of critical medications.

What are the pediatricians seeking in their lawsuit against University Hospitals?

The doctors are seeking to be reinstated, to recover economic losses, and to address reputational and emotional damages.

Home / Health / Doctors Fired for Raising Patient Safety Concerns

Doctors Fired for Raising Patient Safety Concerns

17 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Two pediatricians claim wrongful termination by University Hospitals.
They raised concerns about understaffing and delayed test results.
The doctors seek reinstatement and compensation for damages.

Doctors Fired for Raising Patient Safety Concerns

Two former University Hospitals pediatricians, Lauren Beene and Valerie Fouts-Fowler, have filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination in June 2025. The suit claims the doctors were fired after voicing serious concerns about patient care quality within the healthcare system. These concerns included issues such as understaffing in emergency rooms, delays in processing test samples, and a lack of essential medications.

The lawsuit contends that University Hospitals Health Systems, University Hospitals Medical Practices, and University Hospitals Medical Group unjustly terminated the doctors, violating their employment contracts and Ohio law. The defense reportedly claims the firings were for improper use of a provider app, a motive the doctors allege was a pretext to hide retaliatory actions for their whistleblowing.

Beene and Fouts-Fowler are seeking reinstatement to their positions, along with redress for reputational harm, economic losses due to unemployment, and emotional distress caused by the terminations and an alleged subsequent smear campaign by the hospital system. University Hospitals has declined to comment on the pending litigation.