UMC ordered to void reports against doctor

A federal judge has ordered University Medical Center to void reports filed with the National Practitioner Data Bank against an obstetrician-gynecologist whose privileges were suspended by the hospital's medical staff in 2008.

Senior U.S. District Judge Edward Reed Jr. issued the order, which came after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Dr. Richard Chudacoff in his 2008 lawsuit against the county-run hospital.

According to a statement released by attorney Jacob Hafter, who represents the physician, Chudacoff's clinical privileges were suspended "without any notice or opportunity to be heard." UMC then filed a report with the data bank alleging that Chudacoff was a risk to patient safety and had inadequate skills.

This led to the "virtual destruction of Dr. Chudacoff's career," according to Hafter's statement. "Prior to moving to Las Vegas in 2008, Dr. Chudacoff was a world renowned minimally invasive gynecological surgeon with Baylor University in Texas."

Last week, the appellate court agreed with Chudacoff's claim that UMC had violated his due process rights. The court also allowed Chudacoff to proceed with his claims against the physician leadership at the hospital.

Hafter said the matter has been returned to U.S. District Court in Las Vegas for a trial on the issue of damages.

Chudacoff's case mirrors the case of another physician represented by Hafter. Last month, a federal jury awarded anesthesiologist Charles Williams $8.8 million in a case against UMC and Dr. John Ellerton, the hospital's former chief of staff.

Hafter argued that UMC's medical staff destroyed Williams' career when it suspended his privileges in 2005 and labeled him a drug user without any proof.

In his 2009 lawsuit, Williams accused UMC and Ellerton of violating his due process rights by suspending him without giving him adequate notice of the allegations against him, including the substance abuse claims.