Atlanta-based Piedmont Hospital drops opposition to Gwinnett's open-heart surgery program

Atlanta-based Piedmont Hospital dropped its lawsuit to block Gwinnett Medical Center's plan to perform open-heart surgery, but the plan still faces opposition from Emory University Hospital. Piedmont and Emory have battled the Gwinnett proposal for almost two years, asserting that it would flood the market and dilute the quality of open-heart care. Even after the state approved the plan, both hospitals, each of which performs open-heart surgeries, filed separate lawsuits to overturn the state decision. Piedmont spokeswoman Diana Lewis said the hospital stands by its negative opinions on the Gwinnett plan, but has undergone much criticism for its position.