Judge: Hospitals Can Be Sued over Doctor Credentialing

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A circuit court judge in South Dakota says health providers can be sued for failing to properly credential doctors, and that members of credentialing committees also can be held liable.

The Argus Leader reports the ruling by Judge Bruce Anderson sets the stage for South Dakota to join at least 30 other states allowing lawsuits under "negligent credentialing." The goal is to boost patient safety.

The ruling comes in a case in which three dozen plaintiffs are suing a spine surgeon who practiced in Yankton, along with two medical facilities and doctors on the credentialing committees.

Anderson also ruled that a statute allowing medical peer review committees to keep their findings and materials private is not an absolute privilege.

Anderson's ruling could be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

Source: Judge: Hospitals Can Be Sued over Doctor Credentialing