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Federal Appeals Court Reviews Antitrust Dispute Over Heart Care in Laredo

By  |  April 5, 2026

A longstanding legal conflict over the organization and control of cardiology services in Laredo was brought before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit this week, as judges considered arguments from both sides in a closely watched case involving Doctors Hospital of Laredo, cardiologist Ricardo Cigarroa, and Laredo Medical Center.

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    The case, heard in New Orleans, focuses on allegations of attempted monopolization of the cardiology market in Laredo. According to a statement in appellate filings, the dispute stems from changes that began around 2020, when competition among hospitals and physicians in the region intensified and reshaped how heart care services were delivered.

    Per a statement in the filings, disagreements emerged over whether cardiology services should be primarily directed by hospital-employed physicians or independent specialists. The filings also highlight tensions regarding which hospital would serve as the primary location for critical heart procedures.

    According to a statement in court documents, both parties describe a period of rapid transition. Physicians affiliated with Cigarroa increasingly shifted their practices toward Laredo Medical Center, while Doctors Hospital of Laredo worked to recruit additional cardiologists. These developments led to disputes over staffing, physician coverage, and the broader direction of cardiac care in the city.

    The conflict escalated in 2021 when Doctors Hospital and its affiliated physician group filed a lawsuit alleging that Cigarroa, his institute, and Laredo Medical Center conspired to restrict competition and redirect cardiology services away from Doctors Hospital. Per a statement from the defense outlined in filings, attorneys representing Cigarroa and Laredo Medical Center reject those claims, arguing that the changes were driven by normal competitive forces rather than any coordinated effort to limit market access.

    According to a statement in the filings, the defense further contends that Doctors Hospital historically held a dominant position in Laredo’s heart care market and sought to preserve that status as independent physicians began relocating their practices.

    Cigarroa and Laredo Medical Center also argue, per a statement in the filings, that closer alignment between Cigarroa and the medical center, along with investments in infrastructure and staffing, resulted in expanded cardiac services. They maintain that these changes increased the number of available providers and procedures, ultimately offering patients more options for care.

    Additionally, according to a statement in the filings, the defense disputes specific allegations made by Doctors Hospital, including claims that a potential recruit was discouraged from practicing in Laredo. Attorneys argue there is no evidence of a coordinated attempt to block physicians or suppress competition in the region.

    Source: Imton Line