A hospital appealed from a temporary restraining order issued to prevent the summary suspension of a cardiac surgeon's clinical privileges by the Executive Committee of the hospital's board. The board took this action after the medical staff leadership refused to act. In reversing the trial court and overruling the TRO, the appellate court ruled that the board had the inherent authority to take this action, even if it could be found to be inconsistent with the medical staff bylaws. On this point, the court stated that if a medical staff bylaw could be interpreted in a way that would restrict the exercise of the board's authority, "we would strike it down as a violation of public policy."

Read summary of Lo v. Provena Covenant Med. Ctr., 2004 WL 162685 (Ill. Jan. 28, 2004)