Physicians' rights as hospital staff members

Physicians may be denied appointment to the staff of a hospital or may find themselves threatened by removal or limitation of their staff privileges for reasons that have nothing to do with their competence. This article reviews the conditions under which physicians can or cannot be legally denied staff membership or reappointment, as well as the legal precedents for fair procedure if a hospital tries to remove a physician from its staff. All physicians should be aware of their rights in these areas to protect themselves from unjust denial of staff privileges, which could result in adverse career consequences.