Health Podcast Library

What Happens When an Insurance Company Interrupts Surgery? with Dr. Elisabeth Potter

Aug 19, 2025
1:14:04

Episode Description

Ever had your surgery interrupted… by UnitedHealthcare? Yeah, me neither. But that’s exactly what happened to our guest this week, the incredible Dr. Elisabeth Potter. She went viral after exposing the absurdity of insurance meddling in patient care, right down to getting pulled out of the OR for a phone call about prior authorization. In this episode, Kristin and I dig into how Dr. Potter stood up to a massive insurance company, why they tried (and failed) to shut her down with a cease-and-desist, and how she’s paying the price for telling the truth. It’s raw, it’s maddening, it’s inspiring, and it’s a reminder that sometimes the bravest thing you can do in medicine is refuse to be quiet.


Takeaways:

  • Hear the unbelievable story of insurance calling Dr. Potter mid-surgery to question her patient care.

  • Find out how a viral video and a cease-and-desist letter turned one doctor into a national advocate.

  • Learn why hospital lawyers installed cameras in ORs after her posts and how she fought back.

  • Discover how retaliation from UnitedHealthcare threatened her new surgery center and practice.

  • Why thousands of people rallied behind her with donations, comments, and support and why she’s not backing down.

Want more Dr. Elisabeth Potter?


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