https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/greys-anatomy-writer-placed-on-administrative-leave-amid-hr-investigation-1235114283/
The 44-year-old Grey's consulting producer, who is best known for writing Grey's landmark 2019 "Silent All These Years" rape victim-themed (as well as making a cameo on it), has written extensively about her medical experiences, including having a rare form of bone cancer. But according to a report from The Ankler (https://theankler.com/p/shocker-disney-investigating-greys?s=r), Finch may have fabricated her medical history. According to The Hollywood Reporter's Lesley Goldberg, "the doubt over the validity of Finch’s personal details arose after the writer cited a family emergency and left the writers’ room to address a family matter. When colleagues phoned Finch’s wife, Jennifer Beyer, similarities to the story Finch told her colleagues and Beyer’s history matched. Beyer raised concerns with Disney and Shondaland execs, prompting Finch to be placed on administrative leave. Finch and Beyer are now said to be going through an 'acrimonious divorce,' as one source described it." ABC declined to comment amid the investigation into Finch. But her law firm said in a statement: “Ms. Finch will not disclose her private health matters. Likewise, she will not speak about her pending divorce from her estranged wife, Jennifer Beyer, or comment on any statements that Ms. Beyer may have made to third parties about Ms. Finch.”
Grey's Anatomy writer is Elisabeth Finch is taking a leave of absence after she was accused of fabricating her illnesses (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/greys-anatomy-writer-elisabeth-finch-leave-of-absence-1235123286/)
As a result of her personal leave, Disney is suspending its inquiry into Finch over an allegation, first raised by The Ankler (https://theankler.com/p/shocker-disney-investigating-greys), that she may have fabricated personal bouts with cancer and other medical-related issues. "A formal investigation, other sources say, was never officially launched as Disney is said to have asked Finch to provide a doctor’s note and consent for her physician to speak with the company’s medical director," explains The Hollywood Reporter's Lesley Goldberg. "The writer declined and instead opted to take a personal leave from the series. Disney granted the leave. Finch’s medical records are protected under patient privacy laws included in the HIPPA Act." In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Finch said: “I will always remain one of Grey’s Anatomy’s biggest fans. I loved the show from day one and had the honor to write for it since season 11. The proudest moment of my career was watching survivors of rape receive the episode ‘Silent All These Years.’ Grey’s Anatomy is one big-hearted, brilliant family. As hard as it is to take some time away right now, I know it is more important that I focus on my own family and my health. I’m immensely grateful to Disney, ABC, and Shondaland for allowing me to do so and for supporting me through this very difficult time."
How embattled Grey's Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch made cancer her "brand" and allegedly "Delvey'd" Shonda Rhimes (https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-truth-lies)
Vanity Fair's Evgenia Peretz details how Finch, who is currently on personal leave from the ABC drama, became a Grey's Anatomy writer by allegedly embellishing a series of personal traumas, including being a cancer survivor. Everyone believed Finch was a miracle, says Peretz, adding: "She showed up so bravely to the Grey’s Anatomy writers room, a scarf over her bald head. And she so inspired everyone around her that they did whatever they could to support. Her bosses gave her all the time off she needed to participate in her maintenance chemo and clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Friends there drove her to and from appointments. When cancer story lines came up on the show, Finch led the way—she was the expert. And she even chronicled her experience with chondrosarcoma on the side—in Elle and The Hollywood Reporter, and on Shondaland.com, to promote her episodes. She wasn’t one to draw attention to herself, no. Cancer, alas, had become her brand." In February, just as Inventing Anna was being released, Rhimes received an email from Jennifer Beyer, Finch's estranged wife. "Rhimes knew of Beyer; she had even advised Finch about matters concerning the couple’s future together and Beyer’s kids," says Peretz. "But this time, Rhimes did not respond…and did not respond. If what Beyer was saying was true, Rhimes—and all of Shondaland—had been Delvey’ed. As had Finch’s friends and family members. Only she wasn’t stealing people’s money. She was taking their empathy and tears, as well as other people’s personal traumas, which she would call her own. (In response to detailed questions for Finch regarding information from multiple sources, her attorney Andrew Brettler contended that not all of Beyer’s claims were true, and asserted that Beyer was neither 'reliable' nor 'unbiased' because the two women are in the midst of a 'highly contentious divorce.')" ALSO: Finch's story has an Anna Paquin connection, as they became friends while working on True Blood and Finch thanked her for her kidney transplant (https://www.vulture.com/2022/05/greys-anatomy-writer-anna-paquin-kidney.html).
Embattled Grey's Anatomy writer Elisabeth Finch's estranged wife tells how she siphoned off her life (https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/greys-anatomy-elisabeth-finch-jennifer-beyer)
In the second part of Vanity Fair's two-part investigation into Finch, Jennifer Beyer, who first alerted Shonda Rhimes that her estranged wife has allegedly been lying about her ailments, details how she met the Grey's writer at an Arizona mental health treatment center in 2019. And how Finch lied about suffering from PTSD after claiming that one of her friends was a victim in the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Beyer also alleges that Finch took her to Anna Paquin's house in Ojai and lied about owning part of it.