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Hospital found negligent in privileging physician

Credentialing & Verification Update, August 15, 2007

A jury found Putnam General Hospital in Hurricane, WV, negligent in privileging a physician who was later accused of medical malpractice in more than 100 orthopedic surgeries, according to a July 31 Associated Press article.

Questions in the civil trial that concluded July 31 centered not on medical malpractice, but rather on whether the hospital sufficiently checked John King, MD's background before it granted him temporary privileges to perform surgery at the facility.

Media reports about the case surfaced four years ago when the osteopathic surgeon's short tenure at Putnam General spurred a high number of lawsuits. The hospital suspended King's privileges in May 2003, the article reports.

According to the Associated Press, a lawyer for the plaintiff cited King's suspension from a hospital in Alabama, his abrupt departures from other hospitals and training programs, and incomplete internships as evidence that the hospital was negligent during the credentialing process. However, Putnam General's attorney argued during the trial that the hospital adequately followed a screening process before granting King temporary privileges.

The Putnam County Circuit Court jury deliberated for roughly one hour before it decided against the hospital, the Associated Press article states. The ruling means that plaintiffs can seek punitive damages against Putnam General in the medical malpractice lawsuits against King, which allege unnecessary surgeries, botched operations, and other medical errors.

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