The secret campaign to silence critics of a hospital real estate empire
16 days ago
- #corporate-scandal
- #media-intimidation
- #healthcare-finance
- Ed Aldag, CEO of Medical Properties Trust (MPT), faced scrutiny over the company's financial practices and its relationship with Steward Health Care.
- Wall Street Journal and other media outlets reported on MPT's financial mismanagement, leading to a decline in stock price and proposed legislation to limit its business.
- MPT and Steward engaged in aggressive reputation management, hiring crisis PR firms, law firms, and private intelligence firms to silence critics.
- Private intelligence firm Audere International surveilled MPT's critics, including journalists and investment analysts, in a campaign funded partly by Steward.
- Investment analyst Rob Simone and others exposed MPT's financial troubles, leading to harassment and online intimidation by anonymous accounts.
- MPT's financial practices were linked to patient care issues at Steward hospitals, including shortages of medical supplies and hospital closures.
- The death of Sungida Rashid at a Steward hospital highlighted the consequences of MPT's financial mismanagement, sparking investigations and public outcry.