Physicians are increasingly subject to competitive pressures which have traditionally affected other professions. Despite such pressures, hospitals, physicians and associations of physicians must continue to make decisions about credentialing and cooperation without consideration of the effect of such decisions on the existence of competition for patients. Similarly, to avoid antitrust involvement physicians must continue to provide the backup and other assistance to other physicians consistent with good medical care and without reference to the professional affiliations or competitive position of the competitor.
The central lesson of the cases, statutes and pronouncements discussed above has been and remains that decisions on credentialing and backup must be made based upon the competency and experience of the physician in question and the needs of the community. Basing decisions on other factors, and certainly on competitive factors, will likely put the physician so deciding in grave danger of liability for the decision.
