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The purpose of medical staff privileging is to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care in the hospital. 

Physicians who are involved in granting, denying, or terminating hospital privileges have an ethical responsibility to be guided by concern for the welfare and best interests of patients. They should: 

  1. Base privilege decisions on: 
    1. the candidate’s training, experience, demonstrated competence;  
    2. the availability of facilities; 
    3. the overall medical needs of the community, the hospital, and especially patients. 
  2. Avoid basing privilege decisions on: 
    1. numbers of patients the candidate has admitted to the facility; 
    2. economic or insurance status of patients admitted by the candidate; 
    3. personal friendships, antagonisms, jurisdictional disputes, or fear of competition.
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics: IV, VI, VII
Read the Principles