PENNSYLVANIA RECORD

A former medical director at a suburban Philadelphia hospital has filed suit against the

institution, alleging his adult daughter, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was expelled from her therapy sessions at the hospital in retaliation for the father’s previous wrongful termination lawsuit against the defendant.

In his new complaint, Gwynedd Valley, Pa. resident Donald Meade claims that his 22-year-old daughter, Madeline, benefitted greatly from therapy sessions at East Norriton, Pa.-based Mercy Suburban Hospital from June 2009 to May 2011, but experienced hardship after the sessions were terminated on May 11, 2011, allegedly in retaliation for Donald Meade suing the hospital over his March 2010 firing.

The lawsuit, which was filed July 17 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by Philadelphia attorneys Eric L. Young and Gerard P. Egan, states that Donald Meade served as Medical Director of Emergency Medicine at Mercy Suburban Hospital from September 2009 to the following spring, at which time he was allegedly wrongfully terminated.

Donald Meade subsequently filed a wrongful termination complaint against the hospital and Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the same two defendants named in this latest civil action.

The new lawsuit – Madeline Meade and Donald’s wife, Lisa Meade, are named as co-plaintiffs – claims that the hospital ended Madeline’s therapy program in retaliation for Donald Meade filing his wrongful termination claim.

“To cover up this shameful and outrageous conduct which was so harmful to Madeline’s physical and mental well-being, agents of the defendants concocted a story that Madeline’s much needed therapy was being terminated because of concerns about Medicare reimbursement,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit goes on to state that Lisa Meade told the defendants that the therapy sessions had been approved by Madeline’s doctor and private insurance carrier.

“Seeing that the ruse about Medicare had been exposed, Madeline’s therapist and her superior conceded that the decision to terminate Madeline had come from the hospital’s administration,” the complaint states. “Because of this retaliatory and obscene act by the defendants’, Madeline and her parents have been greatly harmed both physically and mentally.”

The lawsuit states that Madeline Meade was one of two twins born prematurely. She has cerebral palsy, which led to her developing Quadriplegia.

Because of her ailments, Madeline has spent most of her life within the confines of a wheelchair.

Because of her limited mobility, Madeline has been required to participate in physical therapy to minimize other health risks.

The complaint states that the physical therapy Madeline received at Mercy Suburban helped her greatly, and that her “physical, mental and emotional health were advanced by the therapy sessions.”

The lawsuit contains counts of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $50,000.

A jury trial has been demanded.

 

The case ID number is 120702265.