Bigger (and Broader) is Better When It Comes to Releases

Two recent lawsuits decided by Utah courts draw attention to the importance of strong, broad release language protecting physician leaders who volunteer to participate in credentialing, peer review, and other medical staff activities. In both cases, the physicians challenging peer review activity argued that the release language set forth in the Medical Staff Bylaws should not be applied to block their claims. One aggrieved physician claimed that the release language only applied to formal review and not collegial intervention efforts. The other claimed that the release language should not apply because the leadership allegedly violated the Bylaws while conducting peer review. In the end, good release language saved both hospitals and their leaders from more protracted litigation. When it comes to release language, bigger is better. Learn more about these cases and releases on this short podcast.