In a gripping legal battle that raises questions about medical ethics and employee rights, a former hospice physician has filed a lawsuit against his previous employer, alleging wrongful termination and retaliation. The complaint was lodged by Kamaldip Ghei in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, on January 10, 2025, targeting Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice dba Sutter Care at Home.
Kamaldip Ghei's case revolves around his employment with Sutter Care as a hospice physician starting in August 2022. Ghei claims he was wrongfully terminated after raising concerns about the organization's practices regarding patient care. Specifically, he alleges that he was pressured to keep patients in hospice care even when it was not medically justified. This situation came to a head in May 2023 when Ghei opposed the continued hospice certification for a patient known as "R.M." Despite agreeing with other healthcare providers that R.M. should be discharged from hospice care, Ghei faced persistent pressure from his superiors to reevaluate the patient. He expressed his concerns in an email stating, "I do not want to do anything fraudulent and keeping her on seems fraudulent to me." This resistance allegedly led to his contract not being renewed in June 2023.
Ghei accuses Sutter Care of violating California Labor Code §1102.5 by retaliating against him for refusing to engage in what he believed were fraudulent activities. The complaint outlines how Ghei's professional judgment was undermined and how he was ultimately dismissed due to his refusal to comply with unethical directives. Additionally, Ghei argues that his termination violated public policy designed to protect employees who resist unlawful activities.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief from the court. For the alleged retaliation and wrongful termination, Ghei is pursuing special damages for lost income and general damages for emotional distress caused by the ordeal. He also seeks punitive damages intended to penalize and deter such conduct by employers in the future. Furthermore, Ghei requests declaratory relief concerning an arbitration agreement he signed with Sutter Care, which he contends contains provisions violating California law.
Representing Kamaldip Ghei are attorneys Jeremy Pasternak and Morgan Yang from the Law Offices of Jeremy Pasternak based in San Francisco. The case is identified under Case No. CGC-25-621305 and will be presided over by judges within the Superior Court of California.