by Dr. Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, MPH
In today’s healthcare landscape, patients rely heavily on online reviews to make decisions about their care. Unfortunately, the review system is increasingly being weaponized—not by patients, but by powerful hospital systems and corporate groups intent on silencing independent voices. Fake reviews have become a calculated tactic used to discredit physicians who choose to operate outside monopolistic networks or who dare to blow the whistle on unsafe practices.
Why Fake Reviews Are Written
For independent physicians, particularly those who speak out about patient safety, fake reviews are not about care. They are about control. Coordinated negative reviews often appear in clusters, stripped of meaningful detail, and follow closely after whistleblowing, regulatory complaints, or other challenges to entrenched systems. The intent is clear: to damage reputation, discourage patients, and create a false public narrative.
The Impact on Whistleblowers
Hospitals and large physician groups often hold monopoly-like power in regional markets. When an independent physician challenges them—whether by reporting unsafe conditions, calling out discrimination, or refusing to conform to exploitative referral systems—they face retaliation. Fake reviews are part of a broader playbook that also includes bad faith peer review, sham privilege restrictions, and blackballing in credentialing processes.
Regional Patterns of Retaliation
In the Inland Empire, this pattern has become strikingly clear. San Antonio Regional Hospital (SARH), Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center (PVHMC), Care For Women’s Medical Group (CFWMG), and San Gabriel Valley Perinatal Group are among the organizations that have faced scrutiny for operational failures, anti-competitive conduct, and protecting dangerous providers. Independent physicians who hold these systems accountable often find themselves targeted not just in boardrooms or peer review committees—but also on Yelp, Google, and other public platforms.
The Broader Harm
Fake reviews don’t just harm physicians—they harm patients. By attempting to silence or discredit whistleblowers, these systems shield their own misconduct from public view. Patients deserve to know when hospitals fail to treat hemorrhage, ignore patient safety warnings, or cover up harm. Attacking the messenger through fake reviews is a way to maintain silence while continuing harmful practices.
Standing Strong
For physicians committed to transparency and patient safety, fake reviews are a reminder of the stakes involved in challenging entrenched systems. But reputations built on years of safe, compassionate, and accountable care cannot be undone by coordinated smears. Patients ultimately know the difference between authentic care and manufactured attacks.
Fake reviews may clutter the internet, but they will never erase the truth: independent physicians and whistleblowers are essential to protecting patients and ensuring healthcare systems remain accountable.
About the Author
Dr. Shawanda Renee Obey, MD, MPH, is a board-certified OB/GYN, public health practitioner and founder of Summit Women’s & Wellness Medical Group in the Inland Empire. With more than 20 years of experience and known for excellent outcomes, she is an advocate for patient safety, health equity, and accountability in women’s healthcare. She has spoken out nationally on issues of retaliation against whistleblowers and the systemic barriers faced by Black physicians.