Board of Registration in Medicine v. Hallmark Health Corp.

In response to a patient’s complaint of physician misconduct during a physical examination, and pursuant to a statutory mandate, see G. L. c. 112, § 5,2 the disciplinary unit of the Board of Registration in Medicine (board) is investigating a physician, referred to as Dr. John Doe.3 In connection with the investigation, the board seeks materials located in Dr. Doe’s credentialing files4 from the defendant hospitals. Hallmark Health Corporation has declined to provide the requested materials because, it asserts, they are protected by the “medical peer review privilege.” See G. L. c. Ill, §§…