Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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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.
2022
Employee sues Kaiser over alleged race and age discrimination
Lawsuit filed
Adriane Nolan sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., alleging that she was passed over for more than 150 jobs because of her race and age. The allegations are claims in a lawsuit; the source reports no court determination.
Company response
Clarification — Kaiser Permanente
A Kaiser representative issued a statement Thursday, saying, ``We are very proud of our efforts to promote a widely diverse and inclusive workplace and our successes in this regard have received widespread recognition from many independent organizations, including being named one of DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity for 15 years. We value our family of employees who are Kaiser Permanente's most valuable resource and remain committed to ensuring all our employees feel valued and treated fairly.''
Source excerpt
A 59-year-old Black worker is suing Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., alleging she was passed over for more than 150 jobs for which she was qualified because of her race and age.
Adriane Nolan's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges race and age discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation. She seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the suit brought Wednesday.
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.