Request public records, get sued
The suits on Pill Hill really, really don't want to talk about the circumstances surrounding the firing of the CEO of their health care system. Oregon Health & Science University canned Tarek Salaway after just four months on the job. He claimed it was because he raised concerns about patient safety. Oregon Public Broadcasting asked to see the full file on the firing. OHSU said no, but the Multnomah County district attorney ruled that the med school had to give up the file; it's public information.
So what does OHSU do, obey the district attorney's ruling? Oh, heck no: They sue OPB! That'll teach them.
OHSU has given off the odor of an unauthorized landfill for a long time now, but this may be a new low. Unless and until they comply with state public records law and show what they've got, anyone with any sense will assume the worst. And they'll probably be right.
In my experience, when somebody is working that hard to keep us from seeing some public records, they've pretty-much already answered my question (we still need the documentation, of course, but we know what we're working with & what to look for, at that point).
ReplyDeleteAnother reason healthcare is so damned expensive is the musical chairs of the board of mis-directors. Nothing like a cover-up to show how naked they really are...
ReplyDeleteYes, OHSU is suing OPB, but in my opinion, this is more of an appeal of the Multnomah County DA's order granting release of the records. I haven't reviewed this complaint so I have no opinion on the lawsuit, but here is simplified version of the public records statutory scheme:
ReplyDeletePerson or entity requests records from public body → public body claims statutory exemption to deny request → requester files petition with local DA to settle dispute → DA issues order to either release or deny release of records → if losing party wants to appeal the DA order, they must sue the prevailing party in circuit court requesting an injunction on DA's order.
The process could be improved.
Or the DA’s decision could be final.
DeleteYes. Or, an appeal to circuit court could by styled more like an attorney disciplinary proceeding in front of the bar. In the Matter of: Public Records Request No. XXXX. That way the requester and public body wouldn't have to sue each other.
DeleteIf the requester wins, the government should have to pay the requester’s attorneys’ fees.
DeleteMusical chairs in the executive suite is the least of OHSU's many problems.
ReplyDeleteIs OHSU the only huge medical conglomerate suffering from a management mess.
ReplyDelete