Peer-review confidentiality critical, but under threat

Without confidentiality, the peer-review process cannot be an effective tool for improving quality of care. A case before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania could establish rules that narrow the scope of peer-review protected materials, harming the process. At stake inReginelli v. Boggs, is whether the Pennsylvania Peer Review Protection Act (PRPA) privilege against legal discovery should apply when an independent contractor of a hospital reviewed the performance of a physician on the hospital ’s medical staff.How the situation unfolded Eleanor Reginelli presented to the emergency department at Monongahela Valley Hospital (MVH) with chest and back pains. Marcellus Boggs, MD, an emergency medicine physician at MVH, ordered and interpreted the results of an electrocardiogram and blood work. He diagnosed Mrs. Reginelli with gastro-esophageal reflux disease and discharged her that day. Five days later, Mrs. Reginelli experienced the same symptoms. An ambulance transported her to the emergency department of a different hospital where she was told she was experiencing a heart attack. She subsequently suffered permanent heart damage. Dr. Boggs was an employee of Emergency Resource Management, Inc. (ERMI), which had been hired as an independent contractor to staff MVH ’s emergency department. Mrs. Reginelli and her husband sued Dr. Boggs, MVH and ERMI for medical liability. As part of discovery in the case, the plaintiffs deposed Brenda Walther, MD, the medical director of th...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news