S.T.A.N.D

PRESS RELEASE December 14, 2023. 

A child advocacy group today filed a complaint with the Utah Attorney General’s office and called for the immediate resignation and criminal charges for Intermountain Health Care President and CEO Robert (Rob) W. Allen, Greg Matis, Chief Legal Council, and Dan Liljenquist, Chief Strategy Officer.

After a two-year investigation, the complaint listed the distribution of pornography, distribution of medical gore, and child endangerment for a 2021 marketing campaign that featured photos and video of a topless woman. The complaint also recommended severe fines for IHC.

This action comes as a result of a full set of shocking pornographic images IHC used throughout much of 2021 in a widely distributed advertising, online, and marketing campaign. Chances are, because of the volume of traditional and social media buys, you had seen it, too. And sadly, chances are—so had many minor children because of the way IHC had elected to promote these images.

The campaign featured pictures and video of a topless woman who had undergone a breast removal procedure. IHC had been purchasing pop-up ads, banner ads, and online headers so this image was prolific on the Internet in Utah and some surrounding states from sometime during the first of 2021 through December 15th of that year. In addition, it was the featured campaign using photos and video on the IHC HerediGene main website page for nearly a year.

The 24-month investigation has revealed a liberal radical left-leaning culture at IHC, which many are calling IHC's Bud Light moment of wokeness.

S.T.A.N.D. (Society Taking Action Now for Decency) is initiating action because of an email that was sent to IHC immediately after the photos and video appeared in June of 2021 begging them to “stop using the images in ways that they can’t guarantee that children under the age of 18 won’t be exposed to.”

Here’s the basis of the complaint—IHC ignored a written request by replying in an official IHC communication saying, “Frankly, we anticipated that some people would disagree with our decision to use this imagery, but we firmly believe that such a bold approach will inspire people to take bold action and participate in this potentially lifesaving initiative.”

IHC had been heavily funding the promotion of this image for a HerediGene Campaign, encouraging individuals to join a DNA study on health and kept the images online and in marketing campaigns through the end of the year in 2021.

Here are some questions IHC needs to immediately answer:

-How did you determine that this image is not pornographic and is suitable for persons under the age of 18? (Would you be willing to show it to your minor children or grandchildren?)

-Since these photos and images should clearly be rated 18+, what age-verification technology safeguards were implemented on your main web page and online to prevent minors from accessing it, as required by law?

-Who at IHC approved using photos and video of a topless woman and deemed it appropriate for their company brand?

-Which executives at IHC approved the use of these images?

-Who on the IHC legal team approved the use of these images?

-How did IHC ensure blasting these images in online banners, pop-up ads, on their website, and in email windows would not risk the chance of these images being seen by minor children?

-When it was pointed out to IHC in June of 2021 that the use of these ads was inappropriate and they were asked to immediately stop using them in these irresponsible ways, which executives and members of the legal team at IHC approved the official response that such a, “bold approach will inspire people?”

-Were these images used to secretly promote gender transition and reassignment surgery targeting minors without or without parental knowledge or permission?

-When did these photos start being used in your campaign? How much money was spent in advertising promoting them? What specific ad buys did you purchase in 2021? What were your data points for promoting these images to online users? 

-What were your age verification safeguards (required by law) that no minor children would be accidentally exposed to the use of these images in your extensive online promotions?

-Why did IHC stop using these images and this video on December 16, 2021?

-Will you provide us the original Tory Wilt story video with full topless images that was on your main corporate website for nearly a year?

-Could we see internal communications relating to the decision to pull these pornographic images?

-Who at IHC should be held responsible for the reckless endangerment of minor children as a result of these actions?

-What compensation of damages should IHC be responsible for?

S.T.A.N.D. founder D.L. Green added, “I was in my home office checking email in June of 2021 while my 3-year-old grandson was playing in the room. When I opened my email homepage this IHC banner add popped up with a topless woman and I had to scramble to switch off my computer before my grandchild saw it.” Green added, “I began to see it everywhere and immediately contacted IHC through S.T.A.N.D to stop using it so irresponsibly. They ignored our plead for decency.”

Green went on, “Everyone who sees these images and video agrees it is not suitable for under 18+ years of age. Is this a case of corporate woke activism? If so, who at IHC was responsible? The problem is when you make the commitment to be woke, you always go too far...that’s how you know you’re dealing with a radical liberal agenda.”

Green concluded, “Where is the common sense of a corporation when you point out to executives and their corporate legal counsel that what they are doing could be causing damage to children, responsibly ask them to change course, and they say simply say no? IHC is better than this. This can’t happen again. And that will only happen if the company and its executives pay a heavy price.”