David M. Sokol, M.D. v. Akron General Medical Center, Daniel P. Guyton, M.D. Michael A. Oddi, M.D. Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgeons, Inc.

I would affirm the district court’s order enjoining Akron General Medical Center from limiting Dr. Sokol’s privileges or reporting the adverse action taken by the hospital to any third parties. In my opinion, this is a bad case, and our court is mistaken.

The heart surgeon has been treated unfairly by his hospital. The Hearing Committee was the only group composed of experts independent of the hospital administration. It included a distinguished heart surgeon from Boston. The Committee completely exonerated Dr. Sokol. No one has cited a single operation or a single instance in which Dr. Sokol…