The cross-functional concept, which would become a tenet of Ghosn's management style, worked brilliantly, putting the South American business in the black in two years.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories

Many analysts reckon that a merger with Tenet and a transfer of power to Tenet's management team may be the only way for Columbia to clean up its image (although it could, in the tradition of health-care firms, simply change its name).

ECONOMIST: American health care

Cripe and Caplan say it has been Tenet's practice over the years to deny knowledge by management of allegations of wrongdoing by hospital doctors and staff.

CNN: New Orleans hospital operator has checkered past

And according to the letter it sent to CNN, Tenet says it brought in new management in 2003 and developed a new strategy to resolve all of its legal problems from the past, to resolve all pending federal investigations, and to put transparency, honesty and integrity at the forefront of everything it does.

CNN: New Orleans hospital operator has checkered past

Tenet also wrote that since new management came on board, the quality of care at its hospitals has greatly improved.

CNN: New Orleans hospital operator has checkered past

Tenet 6: The prevalence of secret, sealed settled cases of fraud and wrongdoing in the money management and securities industry is so substantial as to effective undermine the regulatory scheme.

FORBES: Pension Consultant Conflicts of Interests (April 1, 2002 )