Welcome to our Blog: The Dark Side of Steward Health Care

Steward Health Care, a Texas-based hospital operator with about 30 hospitals nationwide, made headlines when it filed for bankruptcy in May. However, the story doesn’t end there.

A recent Senate hearing revealed shocking details about Steward’s CEO, Ralph de la Torre, who refused to attend the hearing despite being issued a subpoena. Now, the Senate is planning to hold him in contempt, with resolutions for civil and criminal enforcement in the works.

The Senate committee, led by Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, is determined to hold de la Torre accountable for the harm Steward has caused to patients, healthcare workers, and communities. Despite Steward’s defense that de la Torre cannot testify due to ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, the Senate remains adamant about seeking justice.

Steward’s mismanagement has led to the closure of hospitals, pediatric wards, neonatal units, and maternity services across the country. Meanwhile, de la Torre has amassed personal wealth, including luxury yachts and fishing boats, leaving patients and staff to suffer the consequences.

Nurses like Ellen MacInnis have testified to the dire conditions under Steward’s management, where understaffed emergency departments led to preventable harm and even deaths. Patients were left without essential supplies, and critical equipment was repossessed due to non-payment.

As the Senate prepares to take action against Steward Health Care and its CEO, the spotlight shines on the dark side of for-profit healthcare and the human cost of corporate greed. Stay tuned for updates as the story unfolds.