Dr. Johnny Delashaw sues commission members over license suspension: 5 things to know

Spine
Laura Dyrda -

Washington-based neurosurgeon Johnny Delashaw, MD, sued multiple Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission members related to action taken against him in 2017, according to a report from The Daily News.

Here are five things to know:

1. Last week, Dr. Delashaw filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court in Seattle, alleging five members of the Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission “violated his constitutional rights, interfered with his expectancy to be able to practice neurosurgery and defamed him.”

2. Dr. Delashaw alleged that misleading information presented to a commission panel led to restricting his ability to practice in 2016, and then “media and political pressure” led to the reopening of his case last year.

3. After articles published in The Seattle Times questioned his leadership, the commission suspended Dr. Delashaw’s license. At that time, he had resigned as chairman from his post at Seattle-based Swedish Neuroscience Institute.

4. The suspension occurred before the commission had a full hearing, according to the report, and the complaint stated the commission’s decision to suspend based on an accusation of disruptive behavior from a nurse was “unprecedented”; according to the commission’s policy, disruptive behavior is “best addressed by the employer.”

5. Dr. Delashaw denied the allegations and had his license was reinstated in July. The lawsuit requests punitive damages and legal cost reimbursement, according to the report.

 

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