Teen Whistleblower Gets The Last Laugh On Hospital That Tried To Silence Him [WATCH]

Samson Cournane, now 17, initiated a Change.org petition with fellow University of Maine students at age 15, spotlighting “serious patient safety issues” at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Maine’s second-largest hospital.

Samson Cournane started an online petition to investigate lax patient safety standards after his mom was fired from a Maine hospital without case.

Now, the hospital is threatening a lawsuit: https://t.co/BHDJknA5wo pic.twitter.com/VL3AQKvzJH

— reason (@reason) August 26, 2023

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The petition addressed his congressman and alleged mistreatment of Cournane’s mother, Dr. Anne Yered, a pediatric critical care physician.

Yered, who raised concerns about the qualifications of the pediatric ICU director, claimed she faced intimidation and was subsequently forced to leave her position after voicing her concerns to Northern Light Health’s CEO.

Cournane’s petition garnered attention after he promoted it on Twitter and in a letter to The Maine Campus student newspaper.

In response, Northern Light Health threatened legal action, alleging Yered acted as her son’s ghostwriter and accusing her of defamation.

This legal standoff lasted for two years, ending on November 7 when the statute of limitations expired.

Reflecting on the experience, Cournane told Just the News that he could finally “go back to a normal social media experience,” though he admitted he would be “more hesitant about writing certain things in the future.”

During the controversy, Cournane gained national attention, meeting with whistleblower advocate Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, and earning an “honorable mention” for a state youth leadership award.

With FIRE’s help, Samson Cournane is standing up against a hospital conglomerate threatening a defamation lawsuit over the 15-year-old’s online petition.

Now, he’s sharing his story with others, including @GovAcctProj and @ChuckGrassley. pic.twitter.com/lTJVqoB24o

— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) September 18, 2023

His case inspired Maine lawmakers to pass the Uniform Public Expression Act, a measure expanding the state’s protections against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

The new law shields various forms of speech, including posts on social media and publications in newspapers, from baseless lawsuits starting January 1, 2025.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which represented Cournane, marked the milestone, highlighting his contributions to the anti-SLAPP law amendments.

FIRE noted that Cournane engaged in community outreach, conducted TV interviews, and presented his story at conferences, including the Government Accountability Project’s whistleblower conference, where he met Senator Grassley.

“Attempts to silence your critics often backfire,” said attorney Jay Diaz of FIRE, pointing to the petition’s rapid increase in signatures from 700 to over 22,000.

The hospital did not respond to queries regarding the case, nor did the University of Maine, which Cournane criticized for its perceived lack of support.

Cournane alleged that the university’s reluctance stemmed from Northern Light Health’s status as a major donor.

A former editor of The Maine Campus reportedly received a “scary letter” from the university’s legal counsel, advising them not to help Cournane, as the hospital pursued its legal threat against him.

In a public statement, Cournane shared his frustration with the isolation he felt on campus, describing instances where classmates distanced themselves, and recounting a project invitation that was rescinded once he arrived on-site. “I’ve been called a crazy kid and ostracized because of a nonpartisan quest for transparency and accountability,” he shared.

Cournane’s experience underscores broader tensions between large institutions and individual whistleblowers.

Reflecting on his encounter with Senator Grassley, he commented on Grassley’s longstanding efforts to promote the positive impact of whistleblowers. “I realized how whistleblowers are seen as almost a necessary evil by the public,” Cournane remarked, shedding light on the complex reception faced by those who speak out.

While the University of Maine declined to respond directly to Cournane’s allegations, stating it needed specific details about whom he had spoken with, Cournane stands by his experience, viewing it as a lesson in the potential costs of public advocacy.

His advocacy, however, has left a lasting mark on Maine’s legislative landscape, with the new anti-SLAPP protections poised to protect future voices like his.

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