Ventura Medical Staff Files Revised Complaint
Posted [09/19/03]

Continuing its fight for self-governance, the medical staff of Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura last week updated its lawsuit against the hospital administration. Last month, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Henry Walsh ruled that California law recognizes the medical staff as an unincorporated association and hence its right to sue the hospital. He rejected the hospital’s argument that the medical staff is merely a department within the hospital and therefore cannot sue the hospital.

In his decision, Judge Walsh ruled a number of the medical staff’s complaints to be improper because they were worded as violations of individual physicians’ rights. As allowed for in the ruling, the medical staff rewrote the complaint so that the allegations were presented as issues in which all medical staff members have a direct interest. This amended complaint was filed Sept. 8.

The amended complaint continues to focus heavily on the importance of medical staff self governance in assuring quality patient care and alleges a number of instances in which the administration’s interference in medical staff activities potentially compromises the quality of patient care in the hospital.

To help the medical staff fight for self-governance, contribute to CMA’s Legal Defense Fund online or by calling 916/551-2043.

Contact: Greg Abrams, 415/882-3350 or gabrams@cmanet.org.