Ethical Challenges in Physician Peer Review

Peer review plays a critical role in protecting patients, maintaining professional standards, and preserving public trust in healthcare. Yet the process also presents complex ethical and legal challenges that can have lasting consequences for both patients and practitioners.

This self-paced online course provides physicians, medical staff leaders, credentialing professionals, quality officers, and other healthcare professionals with a practical understanding of the ethical and legal frameworks that govern peer review. Participants will explore topics including the Health Care Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA), National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) reporting requirements, conflicts of interest, due process, and the warning signs of sham peer review. Through realistic case studies and applied learning activities, participants will develop the knowledge and judgment necessary to participate in peer review with confidence, fairness, and integrity.

Course Details

• Self-paced online course
• Estimated completion time: 2 hours
• Designed for physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals involved in peer review activities
• Includes case studies, knowledge assessments, and practical application exercises
• CME credit available upon successful completion*

Topics Covered

• The purpose and ethical foundations of peer review
• HCQIA protections and legal requirements
• NPDB reporting obligations
• Reviewer responsibilities and due process
• Recognizing and preventing sham peer review
• Managing conflicts of interest and bias
• Applied case studies and real-world decision making

Additional CME information is available on the course registration page.