Schemes involving lawyers improperly compensating non-lawyer referral sources are all too common and are frequently brought to light in the form of professional disciplinary actions. Far less common are reports of illegal referrals involving physicians and hospitals.Yet, two federal decisions involving physicians accused of taking illegal kickbacks in exchange for referring patients were just handed down. In successive months, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of a doctor working at a Chicago …