TX doctor wins $22.5M peer review suit

A Texas cardiologist has been awarded $22.5 million in appeal to his his suit against three rival cardiologists and the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. A previous jury had found in favor of his charges of breach of contract, defamation, business disparagement, tortious interference with a contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress and awarded him a $366 million judgment, but the judge hearing the appeal reduced the award.

The dispute dates back to 1998, when a hospital peer-review panel suspended Dr. Lawrence Poliner's cath lab privileges, citing concerns about his safety record and technique. In response, Dr. Poliner filed suit against the hospital and several hospital-affiliated physicians. In his suit, he contended that the peer-review process was unfair, given that the reviewers were largely cardiologists competing for his business.

For more about the suit:
- read this article from TheHeart.org