Lawmakers are seeking to hold Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre in contempt of Congress for failing to appear at a hearing on Capitol Hill. Senators from both parties, including Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, have expressed frustration over de la Torre’s refusal to testify, as the company faces bankruptcy and struggles to find buyers for its hospitals. Despite a letter from de la Torre’s attorney asserting that the testimony should be postponed until after the bankruptcy proceedings, Chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders has refused to delay the hearing, where health care workers and local officials will also provide testimony on the impact of Steward’s bankruptcy.
The decision to compel de la Torre’s testimony is rare, with the last subpoena issued by the committee occurring in the 1980s. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts considers de la Torre to be “a fugitive on the run” for not appearing at the hearing, and believes he should be held in contempt for defying a legal order. In addition to potential congressional penalties, Steward is also under investigation by the Department of Justice for various financial practices. De la Torre has denied any wrongdoing through a spokesperson, who claims he did everything in his power to address the needs of patients and guarantee loans for the company.
Markey has accused de la Torre of violating his Hippocratic oath as a former cardiac surgeon, describing the actions of him and private equity investors as heartless and harmful to vulnerable individuals. Sen. Cassidy has also expressed concerns about supply shortages and financial issues at a Steward hospital in Louisiana, where patients have reportedly been turned away and some have died while awaiting transfer. Despite their political differences, Cassidy and Markey are united in their goal to address the financial maneuvers that allowed Steward’s investors to profit while patient care suffered.
The actions of de la Torre and Steward Health Care have been the subject of intense scrutiny, with lawmakers and investigators looking into the company’s financial practices and the impact on patients and healthcare workers. The situation highlights broader issues around private equity investments in the healthcare sector and the need for increased accountability and transparency. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are working together to address these issues and ensure that patient care remains a top priority, regardless of financial interests. The ongoing investigation and potential penalties facing de la Torre demonstrate the serious consequences of failing to uphold ethical standards in the healthcare industry.
