Richard Heekin Faces 522 Lawsuits Over Impaired Surgeries at Florida Hospital
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 12
Richard Heekin Faces 522 Lawsuits Over Impaired Surgeries at Florida Hospital
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 12
Summary
At least 522 lawsuits were filed within three years of Richard David Heekin’s 2020 retirement, targeting the former Jacksonville orthopedic surgeon and Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital.
Patients allege Heekin kept operating despite a progressive neurological condition that affected his balance and speech, and that the hospital knew his condition was worsening but let him continue.
Heekin stepped down at age 65, and his case is being cited amid broader U.S. concern that an aging physician workforce is outpacing safeguards meant to protect patient safety.
Proposals to assess older doctors have run into strong professional resistance, legal challenges and disputes over whether cognitive screening can reliably identify unsafe physicians.