Medical malpractice litigation: the discoverability and use of hospitals' quality assurance committee records.

Abstract

Medical staff review committees and their records can play a major role in a hospital's defense against malpractice actions. Members of such committees are liable to varying degrees to actions for conspiracy, tortious interference with a business relationship, defamation and malpractice. Various defenses and statutory immunity in many states provide ample protection where the participant is acting reasonably and in good faith.