Peer Review Update
David Balfour and Carlo Coppo provided the "Peer Review Update" during the Quarterly Meeting of the Orange County Chapter of California Association of Medical Staff Services (CAMSS) that took place on August 7, 2018 in Newport Beach, CA. Their presentation focused on recent changes in the law pertaining to the prevention of premature, harassing lawsuits by disciplined physicians attempting to circumvent the peer review system.
The discussion elucidated the 2018 decision by the California Supreme Court which exempted peer review actions from protection under California’s Anti-SLAPP Statute while holding that speech-based conduct by peer review bodies is still protected by the free speech statute. David and Carlo also discussed recent case law that exempts retaliation and whistleblower claimants from exhaustion available peer review internal remedies.