Hutchson v. Burgess Health Ctr. (Summary)

WRONGFUL TERMINATION

Hutchson v. Burgess Health Ctr., No. 13-0716 (Iowa Ct. App. Mar. 12, 2014)

The Court of Appeals of Iowa affirmed a lower court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of a hospital and denial of a nurse anesthetist’s motion of summary judgment on the nurse anesthetist’s breach-of-contract claim. Following concerns over the anesthetist’s care of patients, a hospital peer review committee held that another anesthetist must observe him. Upon refusing to be observed, the anesthetist’s employment was terminated.

The court held that the hospital “legally and properly” terminated the anesthetist’s employment when he refused to be observed per the peer review committee’s directions.  The court agreed with the lower court that the anesthetist’s refusal violated his employment contract, which allowed for immediate termination.