Sham peer review

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Sham peer review is a growing problem in hospitals that misuse peer review to discipline and even exclude physicians from their medical staffs^{[Citation Needed]}. Sham peer review includes anticompetitive manipulation of peer review to eliminate popular physicians from the market, or to retaliate against physicians who are outspoken in favor of improved patient care^{[Citation Needed]}.

Hospitals have incentives to conceal and cover up errors in order to avoid malpractice cases. Physicians are deterred from reporting errors out of fear of sham peer review^{[Citation Needed]}. The Tampa Tribune (12/28, Gentry) reported that over 80 percent of a one-year's sample of a type of patient safety error was never reported to the state of Florida, even though reporting was required by law.^{[Citation Needed]}