Confront and Counsel Disruptive Physicians

Get a signature for every document to avoid potential litigation, says J. Peter Rich, JD, partner at McDermott Will & Emery, LLP, in Los Angeles.

"It should be documented, dated, and signed," he says. "The language should not indicate bias or opinions of a psychiatric nature, but it should document exactly what happened based upon interviews with the people who observed it, and then the physician or other personnel should sign it. The physicians involved should sign it, and that should be part of their personnel file for the doctor so later, if you've got to make a case, you've got it there. If it involves counseling, the physician who is the subject of the counseling should sign it as well. If there is an agreement for the physician to change his behavior as a condition of continuing with the group, that should be in writing and signed."

This article was adapted from one that originally appeared in the September issue of The Doctor's Office, a HealthLeaders Media publication.