New Tests for Tenet

"There's been no indication -- absolutely no indication -- of a hung jury," Villwock says. "The jury continues to ask for certain pieces of the court transcript to be read, and it appears to be going through all of the counts very judiciously. It sounds like they are doing a good job -- which is a good thing."

Looking ahead, Tenet could find itself embroiled in a Supreme Court case next. In a press release issued Tuesday, AAPS boasted that it had assembled a "dream team" of doctors and lawyers to fight a potentially precedent-setting case against one of the company's hospitals.

For his part, Dershowitz portrayed the case as an important one for the entire country.

"Physicians who are entrusted with the care of their patients can see their professional careers destroyed if they dare to challenge a hospital's practices," Dershowtiz said. "When a 'whistle-blowing' physician is retaliated against, it threatens not only the physician's livelihood, but the care of all patients. This is a case, therefore, that affects every patient and potential patient in America."

Critics have long accused Tenet of placing corporate profits ahead of patient care. The company has already paid a number of significant fines in the past and continues to seek a global government settlement to resolve the slew of allegations still pending. It has maintained its innocence all along.

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