James C. Johnston, MD, JD, FAAN

 

 

He is the Founding Partner of GlobalNeurology, a unique international partnership of neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuroethicists dedicated to advancing sustainable, evidence-based neurological care.

Dr. Johnston serves as an Honorary Professor of Neurology at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. He established the nonprofit organization Global NeuroCare to advance neurological services in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa. Global NeuroCare is accredited by the World Health Organization, holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and is affiliated with the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa.

A prolific author, Dr. James C Johnston has published over 115 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and reports. Additionally, he regularly presents and publishes statements at the United Nations contributing to a greater understanding of how to improve health care in developing regions.

Dr. James C. Johnston first gained national prominence in the early 1990s with his persistent efforts to ensure the Department of Justice, FBI and Office of the Inspector General investigated a large hospital corporation for insurance fraud, kickbacks and related activities such as performing unnecessary procedures on patients. As a result of Dr. Johnston’s whistle blower efforts to stop these abuses and illegal actions, the federal government implemented significant actions to severely punish the hospital chain that committed the fraud and abuse including fines of over $900 million. Several of the hospital employed physicians who were involved in the Medicare and Medicaid fraud, and were the target of Dr. Johnston's complaint, attempted to silence Dr. Johnston by bribing some of his patients to make false allegations. The New York Times wrote a biased story before the conclusion of the case, and refused to do a follow up after Judge Barbara Marquardt cleared Dr. Johnston's name and labeled the complaint against him as "pure fiction," noting he was the victim of a "vicious extortion plot." Several of the physicians involved lost their medical licenses, one was imprisoned for ten years and the hospital administrator was fired. The FBI forced the district attorney and his assistant to resign. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/70318/000110465908012766/a08-2348_1ex10db.htm

 

To date, this remains the largest settlement by any hospital corporation. Dr. Johnston and the other physicians who pursued justice against this hospital chain saved countless patients from unnecessary surgeries and related procedures - saving lives and reducing the enormous loss of healthcare dollars through fraudulent billing. And yet, the New York Times and some related parties have continued to post the false NYT article on the internet over a quarter of a century later - a complete disregard for the truth.