Exclusive contracts and hospital privileges--the physician's perspective

Although most state courts to date have upheld the validity of exclusive contracts, this article points out that exclusive contracts still raise serious antitrust and corporate practice of medicine issues, and such contracts may not, in many cases, terminate the privileges of physicians already on staff. The medical staff is encouraged to become involved in determining whether any exclusive contract is warranted and whether medical staff bylaws should tie continued practice at the hospital to the existence of the contract.