Hospital and Board Response
Northside Hospital confirmed in December that Cole is not an employee, though his surgeries were conducted at its facilities. The hospital is also named in the lawsuits for alleged negligence.
Despite mounting complaints, the Georgia Composite Medical Board has not issued public disciplinary action. Executive Director Jason Jones stated:
“Every investigation is unique and requires time to ensure all concerns are thoroughly addressed… We are currently reviewing and assessing all internal processes to ensure continued integrity.”
Surgeon’s Response and Bankruptcy Filing
Dr. Cole denies any wrongdoing. His attorney issued a statement defending his work and raising concerns about the lawsuits:
“Dr. Cole is known to handle some of the most difficult cases in his field. He has grave concerns about how these former patients were identified and solicited by a single plaintiffs’ attorney.”
That attorney, Alex Seay, argues that the issue is systemic:
“This is a pattern in practice—upselling patients for procedures they don’t need and then performing them incorrectly.”
