The Physician's Right to Due Process in Public and Private Hospitals: Is There a Difference?

Joiner v. Mitchell County Hosp. Auth., 125 Ga. App. 1, 2, 186 S.E.2d 307, 308 (1971), aff d 229 Ga. 140, 189 S.E.2d 412 (1972); Purcell v. Zimbelman, 18 Ariz. App. 75, 500 P.2d 335, 341 (1972); Gonzales v. Nork, No. 228566 (Sacramento Co. Super. Ct., Cal. 1973), rev'd on other grounds, 131 Cal. Rptr. 717 (1976); Corleto v. Shore Mem. Hosp., 138 N.J. Super. 302, 309, 350 A.2d 534, 537 (1975); compare Schenck v. Gov't. of Guam, 609 F.2d 387 (9th Cir. 1979) (District Court did not err in declining to apply emerging theory of independent or corporate hospital liability).

E.g., Gilstrap v. Osteopathic Sanitorium, 224 Mo. App. 798, 810–12, 24 S.W.2d 249, 256 (1929) (implied agency found as basis for employment of physician by sanitorium); c.f., Mulligan v. Wetchier, 39 App. Div.2d 102, 105, 332 N. Y. S.2d 68, 72 (1972) (hospital staff not bound to intervene in treatment of physician's private patient); Hoover v. Univ. of Chicago Hosp., 51 Ill. App.2d 263, 366 N.E.2d 925 (1977) (hospital not liable for assault by physician employee where tort was outside scope of employment).

When there is no employment relationship, there is no vicarious liability; a hospital is not liable for the negligence of an independent contractor physician. Cooper v. Curry, 92 N.M. 417, 589 P.2d 201 (1979).

See supra note 1. See also Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. &sC;331.422 (1970); Mich. Stat. Ann. &sC;14.1179 (12) (1969); Ind. Code Ann. &sC;16–10–1–6.5 (Burns) (1973); Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. &sC;36–445 (1972).

Shields J.C. , Guidelines for Reviewing Applications for Privileges, The Hospital Medical Staff 9(9): 11–17 (Sept. 1980).

For a concise statement of a public hospital's duty, See Moore v. Bd. of Trustees of Carson-Tahoe Hosp., 88 Nev. 207, 211–12, 495 P.2d 605, 608 (1972).

Hayman v. Galveston, 273 U.S. 414, 416–17 (1927); Sosa v. Bd. of Managers of Val Verde Hosp., 437 F.2d 173, 176–77 (5th Cir. 1971).

See Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 (1948); Burton v. Wilmington Parking Auth., 365 U.S. 715 (1961).

E.g., Sosa v. Bd. of Managers of Val Verde Hosp., supra note 7 (notice of charges “reasonably related to operation of hospital” required for denial of admission to medical staff); Moore v. Bd. of Trustees of Carson-Tahoe Hosp., supra note 6 (hospital board may not act unreasonably or arbitrarily in denying restoration of medical staff privileges, even though conduct charged was not specifically prohibited by hospital by-laws).

Sams v. Ohio Valley Gen. Hosp. Ass'n, 413 F.2d 826 (4th Cir. 1969) (rule that staff physicians must locate their offices in the same county as hospital found unreasonable); Simkins v. Moses H. Cone Mem. Hosp., 323 F.2d 959 (4th Cir. 1963), cert. denied, 376 U.S. 938 (1964) (allegations of racial discrimination in staff appointments); Silver v. Castle Mem. Hosp., 53 Haw. 475, 497 P.2d 564, cert. denied 409 U.S. 1048 (1972) (procedural due process found lacking where hospital failed to provide specific written charges prior to hearing for revocation of staff privileges).

Barrett v. United Hospitals, 376 F. Supp. 791 (S.D.N.Y. 1974), aff'd. mem., 506 F.2d 1395 (2d Cir. 1974). See also, Waters v. St. Francis Hosp., 618 F.2d 1106, 1107 (5th Cir. 1980) (codification of common law right authorizing revocation of staff privileges does not convert revocation to state action); Hodge v. Paoli Mem. Hosp., 576 F.2d 563, 564 (3rd Cir. 1978) (mere receipt of Hill-Burton funds insufficient basis to support state action claim).

Barrett v. United Hospitals, supra note 11, at 797.

Id. at 800–05.

Id. at 799.

42 C.F.R. &sC;405.1021 et seq. (1979).

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (Chicago, 1980) at 93–94; See generally, Darling v. Charleston Community Hosp., 33 Ill.2d 326, 211 N.E.2d 253 (1965), cert. denied, 383 U.S. 946 (1966) (JCAH standards are admissible in court and failure to adhere to them can constitute evidence of negligence).

See infra notes 20 and 21 and accompanying text.

See supra note 15.

See supra note 16.

Griesman v. Newcomb Hosp., 40 N.J. 389; 192 A.2d 817 (1963).

Woodard v. Porter Hosp., 125 Vt. 419, 217 A.2d 37 (1966); Hagan v. Osteopathic Gen. Hosp., 102 R.I. 717, 232 A.2d 596 (1967); Khan v. Suburban Hosp., 45 Ohio St.2d. 39, 340 N.E.2d 398 (1976); Bricker v. Sceva Speare Mem. Hosp., 111 N.H. 276, 281 A.2d 589 (1971); Hawkins v. Kinsie, 540 P.2d 345 (Colo. App. 1975); McElhinney v. William Booth Mem. Hosp., 544 S.W. 2d 216 (Ky. 1977); Ascherman v. St. Francis Mem. Hosp., 45 Cal. App.3d 507, 119 Cal. Rptr. 507 (1975); Storrs v. Lutheran Hospitals of America, 609 P.2d 24 (Alaska 1980).

Guerrero v. Copper Queen Hosp., 22 Ariz. App. 611, 529 P.2d 1205 (1974), aff d mem. 537 P.2d 1329 (1975) (private hospital); Williams v. Hosp. Auth. of Hall County, 119 Ga. App. 626, 168 S.E.2d 336 (1969) (public hospital).

42 U.S.C. &sC;291 et seq. and &sC;300 et seq., 44 Fed. Reg. 29372 (1979).

Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. A. &sC;2000(c) (1966); 42 U.S.C.A. &sC;1395 et seq. (1973); see also e.g., Simkins v. Moses H. Cone Mem. Hosp., supra note 10 (participation in Hill-Burton program by private hospital sufficient basis for “state action” in denial of medical staff appointments and patient admissions on the basis of race); Foster v. Mobile County Hosp. Bd., 398 F.2d 227 (5th Cir. 1968) (state legislative creation and receipt of state and federal funds sufficient basis for finding “state action” in case involving alleged denial of staff privileges on basis of race).

Parker v. Port Huron Hosp., 361 Mich. 1, 11–25, 105 N.W.2d 1, 6–13 (1960) (charitable immunity exception to general rule of tort liability, the bases for which are no longer compelling).

Parker v. Highland Park Hosp., 404 Mich. 183, 273 N.W.2d 413 (1978) (operation of hospital is not “state action;” fact that public hospital operates for the “common good of all” does not distinguish it from private hospital since modern hospital, public or private, operated essentially as a business).

Khan v. Suburban Hosp., supra note 21 (required applicants for appointment to document their training, experience, and specialty board certification or eligibility as a prerequisite for the granting of major surgical privileges); Rao v. Bd. of County Commissioners, 80 Wash.2d 695, 497 P.2d 591 (1972) (required references).

Green v. City of St. Petersburg, 154 Fla. 3, 17 So.2d 517 (1944); Khan v. Suburban Hosp., supra note 21; Selden v. City of Sterling, 316 Ill. App. 455, 45 N.E.2d 329 (1942) (mandated supervision for surgical privileges where surgeon's competence needed documentation or where a limited practitioner was granted privileges).

Fahey v. Holy Family Hosp., 32 Ill. App.3d 537, 336 N.E.2d 309 (1975) (required non-departmental physician to consult with qualified department member before performing any major surgery); Mem. Hosp. v. Pratt, 72 Wyo. 120, 262 P.2d 682 (1953) and Peterson v. Tucson Mem. Hosp., 559 P.2d 186 (Ariz. App. 1976) (required timely completion of medical records); Yeargin v. Hamilton Mem. Hosp., 229 Cal. 870, 195 S.E.2d 8 (1972) (required service in hospital's emergency room).

Yeargin v. Hamilton Mem. Hosp., supra note 29, Klinge v. Lutheran Hosp., 383 F.Supp. 287 (D.Mo. 1974), modified 523 F.2d 56 (8th Cir. 1975) (required adherence to reasonable medical staff by-laws, rules and regulations); Citta v. Delaware Valley Hosp., 313 F.Supp. 301 (E.D. Pa. 1970); Duby v. Baron, 369 Mass. 614, 314 N.E.2d 870 (1976) (sustained rule providing for summary suspension of staff member in circumstances indicating an immediate threat to safety of patients); Koelling v. Skiff Mem. Hosp., 259 Iowa 1185, 146 N.W. 2d 284 (1966); Laje v. Thomason Gen. Hosp., 564 F.2d 1159 (5th Cir. 1977) (documented clinical incompetence considered grounds for suspension or discipline).

Pollack v. Methodist Hosp., 392 F.Supp. 393 (E.D. La. 1975); Holmes v. Hoemaka Hosp., 573 P.2d 477 (Ariz. 1977); Renforth v. Fayette Mem. Hosp., 383 N.E.2d 368 (Ind. App. 1978).

Davis v. Morristown Mem. Hosp., 106 N.J. Super. 33, 254 A.2d 125 (1969) (periodic re-evaluation required).

Guerrero v. Burlington County Mem. Hosp., 70 N.J. 344, 360 A.2d 334 (1976).

Walsky v. Pascack Valley Hosp., 145 N.J. Super. 393, 367 A.2d 1204 (1976).

E.g., Blank v. Palo Alto-Stanford Hosp. Ctr., 234 Cal. App.2d 377, 44 Cal. Rptr. 572 (1965); Rush v. City of St. Petersburg, 205 So.2d 11 (Fla. App. 1968).

Adler v. Montefiore Hosp., 452 Pa. 60, 311 A.2d 634 (1973) (cardiac catheterization); Dattilo v. Tucson Gen. Hosp., 533 P.2d 700, 23 Ariz. App. 396 (1975) (nuclear medicine); Lewin v. St. Joseph Hosp., 82 Cal. App. 3d 368, 146 Cal. Rptr. 892 (1978) (renal hemodialysis).

Griesman v. Newcomb Hosp., supra note 20; Foster v. Mobile County Hosp. Bd., 398 F.2d 227 (5th Cir. 1968); Ware v. Benedikt, 225 Ark. 185, 280 S.W.2d 234 (1955); Hamilton County Hosp. v. Andrews, 227 Ind. 217, 84 N.E.2d 469 (1949).

Milford v. People's Community Hosp. Auth., 380 Mich. 49, 155 N.W.2d 835 (1968).

Sams v. Ohio Valley Gen. Hosp. Ass'n, supra note 10 (county lines per se do not relate to hospital's service area or to doctor's availability and ability to serve hospitalized patients adequately).

Ascherman v. St. Francis Mem. Hosp., 45 Cal. App.3d 507, 119 Cal. Rptr. 507 (1975); Foster v. Mobile County Hosp. Bd., supra note 37.

Armstrong v. Fayette County Gen. Hosp., 553 S.W.2d 77 (Tenn. App. 1977).

Of course, requiring a due process hearing does not require the hospital to grant the podiatrist privileges. Shaw v. Hosp. Auth. of Cobb County, supra.

N. Y. Pub. Health Law &sC;2801-b (McKinney) (1973) (podiatrists and others may not be denied staff privileges without stating reasons). In this connection See Fritz v. Huntington Hosp., 39 N.Y.2d 339, 348 N.E.2d 547 (1976); Fried v. Straussman, 393 N.Y.S. 2d 334, 361 N.E.2d 984 (1977).

See Reynolds v. St. John's Riverside Hosp., 382 N.Y.S.2d 618 (Sup. Ct. 1976) (physician's assistants must be considered by a hospital for privileges).

Theissen v. Watonga Mun. Hosp. Bd., 550 P.2d 938 (Okla. 1976); Peterson v. Tucson Gen. Hosp., 114 Ariz. 66, 559 P.2d 186 (Ariz. App. 1976); contra, Wyatt v. Tahoe Forest Hosp. Dist., 345 P.2d 93 (Cal. App. 1959).

Sosa v. Bd. of Man. of Val Verde Hosp., supra note 7 (physician abandoned obstetrical patients in active labor when they could not pay his fee; possessed an unstable physical demeanor and visible nervousness likely to jeopardize surgical patients; subject to fits of anger and rage; frequently moved the locus of his practice; had pled guilty to two felony charges in the past; had suffered suspension of medical license in Michigan and Texas (since restored in Texas); and failed to supply satisfactory current references).

Anderson v. Caro Community Hosp., 10 Mich. App. 348, 159 N.W.2d 347 (1968).

Huffaker v. Bailey, 540 P.2d 1398 (Ore. 1975) (by-law provision not unduly vague and reasonably related to quality of patient care); quoted in Ladenheim v. Union County Hosp., 76 Ill. App.3d 90, 394 N.E.2d 770 (1979).

See, e.g., Miller v. Eisenhower Med. Center, 166 Cal. Rptr. 826, 614 P.2d 258 (1980); see also Staube v. Emanuel Lutheran Charity Bd., 287 Ore. 375, 600 P.2d 381 (1979); Robbins v. Ong, 452 F.Supp. 116 (S.D. Ga. 1978).

Rosner v. Eden Township Hosp. Dist., 58 Cal.2d 592, 375 P.2d 431, 25 Cal. Rptr. 551 (1962).

Joint Commission on Accreditation, Accreditation Manual for Hospitals, supra note 16, at 95, 103–05.

Silver v. Castle Mem. Hosp., supra note 10, 53 Haw. at 484–85; 497 P.2d at 571–72.

Garrow v. Elizabeth Gen. Hosp., 155 N.J. Super. 78, 92, 382 A.2d 393, 400 (1977).

Klinge v. Lutheran Charities of St. Louis, 523 F.2d, 56, 63 (8th Cir. 1975); Hortonville Joint Sch. Dist. No. 1 v. Hortonville Educ. Ass'n, 426 U.S. 482, 493 (1976).

Woodbury v. McKinnon, 447 F.2d 839, 844 (5th Cir. 1979); Ascherman v. San Francisco Med. Soc., 39 Cal. App.3d 623, 648, 114 Cal. Rptr. 681, 697 (1974).

Silver v. Castle Mem. Hosp., supra note 10, 497 P.2d at 571; Ascherman v. San Francisco Med. Soc., supra note 55, 114 Cal. Rptr. at 697.

Anton v. San Antonio Community Hosp., 140 Cal. Rptr. 442, 458, 567 P.2d 1162, 1178 (1977).

Garrow v. Elizabeth Gen. Hosp. & Disp., 79 N.J. 549, 566–67, 401 A.2d 533, 541–42 (1979).

Brickman v. Bd. of Dir. of W. Jefferson Gen. Hosp., 372 So.2d 701, 705 (La. App. 1979).

Joint Commission on Accreditation, Accreditation Manual for Hospitals, supra note 16, at 104.

Johnson R.L. , How Much Process Is Due? Trustee 32(10): 32 (October 1979).

E.g., Garrow v. Elizabeth Gen. Hosp., & Disp., supra note 58, 401 A.2d at 538; Brickman v. Bd. of Dir. of W. Jefferson Gen. Hosp., supra note 59; Shulman v. Wash. Hosp. Center, 348 F.2d 70 (D.C. Cir. 1965).

Margolin v. Morton F. Plant Hosp. Ass'n, 348 So.2d 57 (Fla. App. 1977).

Burkette v. Lutheran Gen. Hosp., 595 F.2d 255 (5th Cir. 1979).

Kushner v. Southern Adventist Health and Hosp. Syst., 260 S.E.2d 381 (Ga. App. 1979).

Sosa v. Bd. of Man. of Val Verde Hosp., supra note 7, quoted in Laje v. Thomason Gen. Hosp., supra note 30, at 1163.