Negligent Credentialing Verdict Reached Against Illinois Hospital

Another negligent credentialing verdict against a hospital has been reached.

In an opinion dated July 26, 2007, the Illinois Appellate Court affirmed a negligent credentialing verdict made against Silver Cross hospital.   The case is the first reported in Illinois dealing with a hospital's liability for negligently credentialing a physician, podiatrist or other health care provider.

During the case, evidence was presented to the jury that Silver Cross Hospital granted hospital privileges to Dr. Paul Kirchner in 1992 contrary to the hospital’s own by-laws. The hospital’s by-laws required that all podiatrists seeking surgical privileges at the hospital have completed either a 12-month podiatric surgical residency program, or be board-certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. Dr. Kirchner met neither of these requirements in 1992, when he initially began performing procedures at Silver Cross Hospital. Kirchner re-applied several times for continuation of his surgical privileges at Silver Cross Hospital, and each time the hospital’s Board of Trustees granted the privileges in violation of its own rules and by-laws.

Read more about this case on the Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog:
http://www.chicagoinjurylawyerblog.com/2007/08/illinois_appellate_court_affir_1.html

Update April 2009 From The Passen Law Group Blog:
http://www.passenlaw.com/blog/chicago-medical-malpractice-law/court-upholds-verdict-hospital-negligent-credentialing