Doc sues Centennial over investigation

Doctor who formerly practiced at HCA facility claims to still be unaware as to why he was under investigation

Email | Print By Walker Duncan

It can be hard to defend yourself when you don’t know what exactly you’re being accused of.

However, that appears to be a major undercurrent in a lawsuit filed recently in chancery court against Centennial Medical Center and its owner, HCA Inc., by Dr. James Coleman. Coleman, who claims he has been, among other things, excluded from insurer BlueCross BlueShield’s panel of healthcare providers due to a notice filed by Centennial with the National Practitioners Data Bank, has been unable to determine the nature of the complaint against him.

According to the complaint, Coleman was previously a member of the medical staff at Centennial. Wishing to take a break from hospital work, Coleman resigned his privileges with the medical center in October 2003.

Following his resignation, Coleman was notified that Centennial had filed a ‘notice of a reportable event’ with the Data Bank, which allegedly stated that he had resigned while under investigation for “inappropriate and/or unprofessional conduct.”

In court filings, Coleman denies having knowledge of any investigation concurrent with his departure from the hospital.

The notice filed with the Data Bank has since, in addition to excluding him from the BCBS panel, cost him a job he was previously offered. But all the while, he claims to have been unable to discover the nature of the complaint.

Coleman reapplied to be a part of the medical staff at Centennial, but was informed last October that his application was rejected due to, according to the complaint, “a review of conduct during the previous term of appointment.”

As a result, Coleman alleges, he has been denied any fair hearing on the matter.

In addition to monetary damages, Coleman claims to have suffered as a result of this conflict, he also asks the court to “issue an order requiring the hospital to give [him] the due process procedural guarantees set forth in the rules and regulations of the medical staff of Centennial Medical Center or to otherwise enjoin the hospital from preventing [him] from having privileges.”

Representing Coleman is private practice attorney Daniel Warlick, who is out of the office today.

An official from Centennial, who spoke briefly with NashvillePost.com, said she was unaware of the lawsuit.

A copy of the complaint is available here (warning: large file)