The Threat Within: Disruptive Physicians as a Business and Liability Risk

By Thomas A. Lerner | Related Practice: Health Care

Every organization is at risk arising from disruptive behaviors by its key employees. For healthcare organizations, the risk is most acute when the disruptive behavior is by a physician, but misconduct by healthcare providers is not limited to physicians alone.

Disruptive behavior by healthcare providers increases patient risks, undermines the mission and reputation of the practice or institution where the behavior occurs, impairs morale, causes staff turnover, and may lead to employment litigation.

Managing a disruptive physician is as critical as it is exhausting, and can lead to direct and indirect financial consequences. This article addresses how some of those behaviors manifest themselves, the potential legal and financial consequences arising from a failure to address the conduct, and considerations of a tiered response to disruptive behavior.

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