The former medical director of one of Charter Medical Corp.'s Florida hospitals has filed suit, contending that the hospital hurt his private practice because he wouldn't keep patients in the facility unnecessarily.
The suit was filed this month by Kevin Butler, M.D., in Hillsborough Circuit Court, Tampa. Charter executives denied the charges and counterclaimed that Dr. Butler owes Charter $34,000. A Charter spokesman said that amount is related to an income guarantee paid to Dr. Butler as part of a physician recruitment contract.
Dr. Butler and his attorney, Paul Catania, conducted a press conference in Tampa to announce the lawsuit and Dr. Butler's allegations that Charter Hospital of Tampa Bay maintains a "heads on the beds" policy to maximize profits.
Since the press conference, Mr. Catania said he has been "flooded by calls from former patients" and that an FBI representative made an appointment to visit him later this month to talk about the charges.
