Boston doctor settles gender bias suit for $7M

BOSTON (AP) -- A Harvard Medical School doctor has settled a gender discrimination lawsuit against Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for $7 million.

Dr. Carol Warfield, who became chief of anesthesia at Beth Israel in 2000, said former surgery chief Dr. Josef Fischer discriminated against her because she is a woman, openly ignoring her in meetings and lobbying for her removal. When she complained to former chief executive Paul Levy, she alleged both men retaliated and forced her out.

As part of the settlement announced Wednesday, the Harvard-affiliated hospital will name its pain clinic after Warfield.

Warfield told The Boston Globe she's "delighted."

The hospital and the defendants did not admit any wrongdoing, but the hospital agreed to "reaffirm and clarify its policies and procedures" for employees reporting discrimination and retaliation.