Louisiana Malpractice Process Applies to Negligent Credentialing

A Louisiana law requiring prescreening of medical malpractice lawsuits applies to negligent credentialing claims alleging hospital wrongdoing specifically related to patient care, Louisiana’s top court said.

The Louisiana Supreme Court Wednesday cleared up confusion that arose following a 2016 decision in which it held that the Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act doesn’t encompass negligent credentialing claims.

That’s correct when the claims are based on actions that are administrative in nature and wholly unrelated to patient care, the court said. But claims that a hospital allegedly failed to properly train and supervise a doctor who provided improper treatment fall within the LMMA’s ...