Pennsylvania Doctor Loses Appeal Over End of Hospital Privileges

A Pennsylvania hospital won’t face claims it unlawfully ended an obstetrician-gynecologist’s privileges after incidents in which he allegedly endangered patients and several complaints by coworkers regarding improper workplace conduct, a state appeals court said.

Evangelical Community Hospital was entitled to immunity under the federal Health Care Quality and Improvement Act, as it acted reasonably in gathering facts resulting in Fred Teichman’s summary suspension after a patient nearly bled out, and in starting an investigation into his disruptive conduct, the Pennsylvania Superior Court said Thursday.

Teichman appealed a trial court’s grant of judgment notwithstanding the verdict for the hospital. A jury ...