The controversy surrounding UnitedHealthcare continues following the recent shooting of insurance CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione. Now, the insurance giant is facing backlash for allegedly threatening Texas surgeon Dr. Elisabeth Potter.
Dr. Potter recently went viral on TikTok and Instagram after sharing a troubling experience during a breast cancer surgery. She revealed that she was forced to step away from the operating room to speak with a UnitedHealthcare agent about whether her patient needed to stay overnight. Shockingly, the agent claimed they didn’t have the patient’s cancer diagnosis on file, saying that was another department’s responsibility.
A month after posting her video, Dr. Potter shared another update, revealing that UnitedHealthcare had sent her a cease-and-desist letter. The company accused her of spreading false information, damaging their reputation, and inciting threats against their executives. The letter demanded that she remove her videos and issue a public apology, stating: “Your claims are false. You falsely blamed UnitedHealthcare for your office’s error, unleashing dangerous misinformation.”
According to a report by Futurism.com, UnitedHealthcare denied interrupting her surgery and insisted that her request for an overnight stay was unjustified. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the company hired the high-profile defamation law firm Clare Locke, the same firm that secured an $800 million settlement for Dominion Voting Systems in its case against Fox News.
Dr. Potter called UnitedHealthcare’s actions “gaslighting and harassment” and remained firm in her stance. She expressed deep frustration over the insurer’s refusal to approve her patient’s overnight stay, emphasizing that staying in the hospital after major surgery is a medical necessity, not an option.
“When they called me during surgery, I had to step out and answer immediately because I knew they might deny the stay, leaving my patient with a huge bill,” she explained. Despite her efforts, the insurance company denied the stay anyway. Instead of addressing the issue, they responded with legal threats.
Dr. Potter made it clear that she would not be intimidated. “If I stay silent, I lose my integrity, my voice, and the chance to make a difference,” she said. “I was honest about what’s happening in healthcare, and I won’t be silenced for standing up for my patients.”
Her story highlights ongoing issues within the healthcare system, sparking conversations about the power of insurance companies and the challenges doctors face in advocating for their patients.
