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Kaiser Permanente controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

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  1. 2026

    Barksdale files lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente over labeling mix-up

    Lawsuit filed

    Cassandra Barksdale and her legal team filed a lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente, alleging that a mislabeled tissue sample led to a cancer misdiagnosis and an unnecessary hysterectomy. The allegations are not presented as a court determination.

    Company response

    • Remediation — Kaiser Permanente

      After this occurred last year, we took immediate steps to ensure it could not happen again.

    • Denial — Kaiser Permanente

      In its own statement, Kaiser called the suit an unfortunate “attempt to create a media event to get leverage during the ongoing bargaining process.”

    Source excerpt

    • After this occurred last year, we took immediate steps to ensure it could not happen again.
    • According to the lawsuit, a tissue sample from another patient was mistakenly labeled as belonging to Barksdale.
    • The Colorado union representing Kaiser Permanente health workers filed a federal lawsuit against the company Thursday, alleging the organization chronically understaffed its services and ignored concerns raised by workers.
    Source

  2. 2021

    California fines Kaiser for pandemic worker-safety violations

    Fine or penalty

    California's workplace safety agency issued 12 citations against Kaiser Permanente for alleged failures to provide hospital employees with protective equipment or training during the pandemic, and imposed fines totaling almost $500,000. Kaiser is appealing the state citations.

    Company response

    • Denial — Kaiser Permanente

      “It’s misleading to interpret these citations to signal any ongoing serious infractions of current public health guidelines at Kaiser Permanente,” Marc Brown, a Kaiser spokesman, said in an emailed statement.

    Source excerpt

    • Kaiser Permanente has on multiple occasions failed to provide hospital employees the gear or training needed to protect them from COVID-19, according to 12 citations issued by California’s enforcer of workplace safety laws, Cal/OSHA.
    • The agency has issued more citations against Kaiser than any other health care employer in California, fining it almost $500,000.
    Source