A Fayette Circuit Court has ruled that a renowned UK trauma surgeon does not get whistleblower status and that the university had the right to sideline him because of unprofessional behavior.
Dr. Paul Kearney claimed he was pulled from any clinical work because he questioned the financial management of the Kentucky Medical Services Foundation and requested an audit in 2014. KMSF was created to help bolster patient care and handles more than $220 million annually. A few months later Kearney’s clinical privileges were revoked.
UK officials say it was a unanimous decision by two independent panels of doctors based on complaints from coworkers, students and patients. A quadriplegic patient sued Kearney for verbal abuse during a surgical procedure.
Judge Ernesto Scorsone’s decision says Kearney’s affidavit shows he “vaguely stated that he thought KMSF needed an audit” and that “it did not read as though he intended to expose wrongdoing” nor did he report it to any supervisors.
UK Spokesman Jay Blanton sent us a statement that reads “This issue has always been about one thing – the expectation we have of each other and everyone who works here to treat people respectfully. Those who do not will be held accountable. We appreciate the Judge’s recognition of those basic facts and the law surrounding them.”