Doctor’s Defamation Claims Dismissed Under California Law

A California physician can’t proceed with a defamation suit over statements about her qualifications, competence, and medical ethics, a state appeals court said.

Suzanne Yang’s suit was barred by a California law that requires dismissal of suits involving statements made in the public interest when the plaintiff doesn’t show a probability of succeeding on the merits, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, said May 8.

Yang is a general surgeon. She sued Tenet Healthcare Inc., its medical staff, and individual doctors for defamation. She alleged they conspired to drive her out of business by telling other doctors not to ...