resign your privileges until and unless you know in writing that there is no investigation.” Physicians facing an investigation


that might become the subject of a dis- ciplinary proceeding, such as an inves- tigation by the Texas Medical Board, can find medical defense coverage in every Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) policy. TMLT’s Medefense covers fines, legal expenses, and pen- alties associated with disciplinary ac- tions, including professional review actions regarding privileges, state medical licensing board actions, pro- ceedings alleging violations, and more. For more information, visit tma.tips/ Medefense. “I always tell doctors, ‘It’s never


you until it’s you.’ Many of them are naïve and think it’s never going to be them because they believe they’re a big team player at the hospital and the hospital loves them,” Mr. Anderson said. “But I’ve represented plenty of doctors [for whom] that was the way it was for 20 or 30 years, and suddenly, they’re made the bad guy. The more doctors understand what’s lurking out there with these hospital investiga- tions and the more potentially sinister this can be, I think the better.” n


Joey Berlin is associate editor for Texas Medicine. You can reach him by phone at (800) 880-1300, ext. 1393, or (512) 370-1393; by fax at (512) 370- 1629; or by email at joey.berlin@texmed.org.


Legal articles in Texas Medicine are intended to help physicians understand the law by providing legal information on selected topics. These ar- ticles are published with the understanding that TMA is not engaged in providing legal advice. When dealing with specific legal matters, readers should seek assistance from their attorneys.


March 2017 TEXAS MEDICINE 53


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60