Nine Neonatologists Sue Asante for $31.5 Million

Former physicians allege they were fired from the Medford NICU after raising concerns about patient care.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Nursing Jobs

Nine Neonatologists Sue Asante for $31.5 Million

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Nine former Asante neonatologists have filed a $31.5 million lawsuit against the health system, alleging unlawful employment practices. The plaintiffs say Asante terminated their employment at the Rogue Regional Medical Center NICU in Medford in July.

Why it matters

The suit centers on whether physicians who raise quality-of-care concerns can face termination, a question with implications for hospital staff and patients in Medford. Asante states it has expanded NICU access and now relies largely on temporary physicians and neonatal nurse practitioners.

The nine plaintiffs seek $31.5 million from Asante in a lawsuit alleging unlawful employment practices. No comparator figure or court ruling on the claims has been reported, and the allegations remain unproven.

The players

Asante

Asante is a Medford-based health system that operates Rogue Regional Medical Center in southern Oregon.

Rogue Regional Medical Center

Rogue Regional Medical Center is a hospital in Medford, Oregon, whose NICU is at the center of the dispute.

The details

The plaintiffs, who founded the group Babies First: Advocating for Exceptional Neonatal Care, say they raised concerns with management about quality of care after administrative changes, including elimination of the NICU Medical Director role and a reduction in support staff. The lawsuit alleges that after raising concerns they experienced a lack of follow-through and hostile treatment, and that they were treated differently from male physicians and other departments. All plaintiffs are women.

July: Asante terminated the plaintiffs' employment at the Rogue Regional Medical Center NICU in Medford.
November 13, 2026: The lawsuit was filed and reported.

Market Landscape

The suit tests whether physicians who raise quality-of-care concerns receive the retaliation protections that federal and Oregon employment law are meant to provide. It also reflects a broader reliance by hospitals on temporary physicians and neonatal nurse practitioners in specialized units.

Patients and families using the Medford NICU may see changes in which physicians provide care as hospitals rely more on temporary staff. Job seekers in neonatal care should note that the staffing model at Rogue Regional is shifting.

The takeaway

Staffing decisions in specialized units can affect both clinicians and patients, so workers and families benefit from knowing how concerns about care are raised and handled. The outcome of this lawsuit will show how those protections apply in practice.