Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1031444
74 HEALTHCARE NEWS Michigan hospital sues 3 patient relatives over Facebook post: 8 things to know By Alia Paavola T he Kalkaska County Hospital Author- ity, the operator of Kalkaska (Mich.) Memorial Health Center, is suing three people over a Facebook post and pick- eting, claiming the moves caused defama- tion, tortious interference and an invasion of privacy, according to the Traverse City Record Eagle. Here are eight things to know: 1. e lawsuit centers on the care of 94-year-old Eleanor Pound and the patient's family members expressing frustrations. It names three defendants — Carol Pound, Diane Pound and Aliza Morse. Carol Pound and Diane Pound are Eleanor Pound's daughters and Ms. Morse is Eleanor Pound's granddaughter. 2. Ms. Morse made a lengthy, public post on Facebook May 5 to express her frustrations with the hospital's care of her grandmother and how staff members treated her and the other family members. e frustrations included being forbidden from visiting their 94-year-old relative. e post has 1,200 shares and garnered nearly 600 comments. 3. Carol Pound picketed in front of the hos- pital, her signs expressing frustration about the facility and its policies. 4. The lawsuit claims that the three defen- dants verbally abused their family member, ignored dietary restrictions, withheld meals from her, instructed her not to take medications and verbally abused hospital employees. As a result, the hospital author- ity said it prohibited Eleanor Pound's rela- tives from visiting. 5. e hospital accuses the three women of business defamation, interfering with its ability to conduct business and false light invasion of privacy. 6. e lawsuit asks for Ms. Morse to delete the Facebook post and issue a public retrac- tion. In addition, it calls for the family members to stop picketing with "critical messages." 7. "e issue is not minimizing publicity. e issue is patient safety, staff safety and the defamation of this very fine organization of care providers," Kalkaska Memorial adminis- trator Kevin Rogols said. 8. In response to the lawsuit, Ms. Morse said, "I want the freedom to express my opinion in Kalkaska County without being subject to frivolous lawsuits," according to the Traverse City Record Eagle. n MM30024_rev0 Ask us about VERITAS – a groundbreaking randomized controlled trial of virtual vs. traditional physical therapy. Participating in bundles? Contact us at bundles@refl exionhealth.com. To save thousands of dollars per patient To be as safe and effective as traditional PT To be loved by patients The results are in. VERA ™ IS THE ONLY VIRTUAL PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM THAT IS PROVEN Ask us about VERITAS – a groundbreaking randomized controlled bundles@refl exionhealth.com. To be as safe and effective as traditional PT To be loved by patients MM30033_rev 0