Legal Definitions - peer-review privilege

Peer-review privilege is a legal right that protects the proceedings and reports of a medical facility's peer-review committee. This committee reviews and oversees the patient care and medical services provided by the staff. The privilege grants legal freedom to the committee members to conduct their review without fear of liability.

For example, if a patient files a lawsuit against a hospital for medical malpractice, the peer-review committee's reports and discussions about the case are protected by peer-review privilege. The patient cannot access this information during the lawsuit.

Another example is if a doctor is being investigated for misconduct by the state medical board. The peer-review committee's reports and discussions about the doctor's conduct are protected by peer-review privilege. The state medical board cannot access this information during the investigation.