Healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente is settling a $49 million dollar lawsuit with the state and multiple counties throughout California.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta says they took action after allegations Kaiser improperly disposed of hazardous waste and failed to protect sensitive patient information.

“Kaiser is our state’s largest healthcare provider, it operates more than 700 facilities and treats more than 8.8 million Californians. If they don’t follow the law, if they are careless with dangerous waste or sensitive information, the potential for harm is enormous and it is widespread,” he said.

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      The fines for-profits pay should be scaled to their most recent yearly profits.

      Maybe then they’s start following the rules instead of just blowing them off.

          • Chaotic Entropy
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            8
            ·
            edit-2
            1 year ago

            As in, it should be a proportion of their overall revenue as a business, if you just take a proportion of their profit then it’s less likely to actually harm them in some way. A single heavy fine calculated from profit will never put them at risk of not actually making a profit due to their horrendous misdeeds.

            • girlfreddy@lemmy.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              3
              arrow-down
              6
              ·
              1 year ago

              I will then amend my solution to add this: the fine should be 50% of their profits.

              I am somewhat wary of hitting revenue as companies could then use it as an excuse to let go of staff, and that is a cost I’m unwilling to stand up for.

              • Chaotic Entropy
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                5
                ·
                edit-2
                1 year ago

                Honestly, without specific regulation to prevent it, cost cutting like slashing staff will be the first thing a company does to protect its expected profits regardless of how you do it. That’s unavoidable whether you go for profit or revenue.

              • ThrowawayOnLemmy@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                3
                ·
                1 year ago

                Like a company needs an excuse to let go of staff. If they’re going to fire people, they’ll use any reason they can to cover.

  • PatFusty@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    23
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    49M for illegally dumping millions of lbs of illegal waste, including personal records, hazardous biowaste and HUMAN BODY PARTS???

    49M is a steal. Im actually outraged by this what the fuck

  • Jackcooper@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    1 year ago

    Yup they’re the largest healthcarrier because they get away with all the crap and are rarely held accountable. Their CEO died at age 60. The most powerful man at a healthcare conglomerate died of CV causes at age 60.