Health Executive Sues John Oliver for Defamation Over Medicaid Remarks

Comedian John Oliver is facing a defamation lawsuit from Dr. Brian Morley, a former medical director at AmeriHealth Caritas, over comments made during an April 2024 episode of Last Week Tonight. Morley claims that Oliver misrepresented his 2017 testimony regarding the level of care for disabled Medicaid recipients, alleging that Oliver's claim that Morley believes 'it’s okay if people have s*** on them for days' is a gross distortion. The lawsuit seeks a retraction, removal of the episode, and damages, asserting that Oliver's remarks have irreparably harmed Morley's reputation and well-being. Morley's legal team argues that his actual testimony was about the nuances of care for mobile individuals, not advocating for neglect of immobile patients. Oliver's segment included a critique of Medicaid cost-cutting practices and highlighted a related case of a disabled individual losing necessary care. The controversy underscores the tension between media portrayals and the complexities of healthcare discussions.