DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin, LLP’s Health Care Practice has counseled dozens of physicians and other health care professionals on how to address ethics complaints, medical board inquiries and legal actions to help them protect their reputations and their careers. The Firm is pleased to announce that another local physician is able to get back to keeping his patients healthy after a complaint put his medical staff privileges at risk.
The Firm defended a physician whose medical staff privileges were challenged by a Hudson County hospital. The physician, an obstetrician gynecologist, was questioned by the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee that claimed the doctor violated the standard of care when he performed surgery on four patients. That’s when we got to work.
A detailed investigation was conducted into the matter. First, an expert was retained to examine the claims and the patient record and defend our client. In turn, multiple analyses were submitted to the medical staff’s attorney refuting the allegations. To meet matters head on, we prepared the doctor to testify before the hospital’s investigative committee.
At the conclusion of the doctor’s testimony before an investigative committee, its members informed the doctor they would recommend that the Medical Executive Committee vote to dismiss all allegations. As a result, the hospital’s Board of Trustees affirmed the Medical Executive Committee’s decision that the physician’s medical staff privileges remain intact.
Medical professionals are held to a high standard. Even a seemingly benign inquiry to a medical licensing board or an employer can have far-reaching consequences. DeCotiis’ Health Care attorneys have helped dozens of health care professionals defend themselves, and we can help your practice as well.
