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Nicole Irmer | Posted in Licensing Defense,News on December 14, 2025
A peer review committee is a group of medical professionals who evaluate the quality of care provided by their colleagues, typically at a hospital or other healthcare facility. Peer reviews are often triggered by a complaint or concern about a healthcare provider’s care, competence, or clinical outcomes. In California, most adverse decisions by a peer review committee have to be reported to the professional’s licensing board.
If your work is under scrutiny by a peer review committee at your hospital, it may impact not just your privileges or employment, but also your license. The peer review committee must submit an 805 report to a licensing board after an adverse decision, which will then trigger a board investigation and potential disciplinary action. If a peer review results in an adverse decision, a California healthcare license defense attorney can advocate for you in a subsequent licensing board investigation.
At the Law Office of Nicole Irmer, we offer compassionate legal representation to doctors, nurses, therapists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals in California. We take a proactive approach to license defense, getting involved early to protect our clients’ licenses and livelihoods. Reach out to our law firm today to schedule a confidential consultation with a California healthcare license defense lawyer.
Peer review is a process through which a group of professionals, most commonly in hospitals, come together to assess the quality and standards of a medical professional’s work. A review committee made up of a panel of peers evaluates a physician’s performance during a peer review, including their clinical decisions, adherence to protocols, and outcomes. The goal of a peer review is to ensure patient safety, provide constructive feedback to the physician, and identify areas for improvement.
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities use peer reviews to assess whether a physician meets the necessary standards to maintain their clinical privileges. The committee meets to review all relevant information, which may include opinions from outside experts. There is typically minimal input from the physician who is under review.
A peer review may be triggered by a patient complaint, a pattern of unexpected outcomes revealed in data, a clinical complication, or a concern about professional conduct or possible impairment. In theory, peer reviews are about quality improvement. In practice, hospitals may use the peer review process to justify an adverse decision, such as the suspension of privileges.
Under California Business and Professions Code (BPC) Section 805, peer review bodies are required to report certain results to the Medical Board of California. This includes:
If any of these actions occur, then the peer review committee must file an 805 report within 15 days. For purposes of 805 reports, a medical disciplinary cause or reason means that an aspect of a licensee’s competence or professional conduct is reasonably likely to be detrimental to patient safety or the delivery of patient care.
An 805 report will immediately trigger a licensing board investigation. The Medical Board of California or other licensing board will perform its own investigation to determine if a licensee has engaged in some type of professional misconduct or is otherwise not competent. If the investigation substantiates the allegations in an 805 report, a formal Accusation may be filed.
This could lead to board disciplinary action, including a public reprimand, probation, suspension, or even revocation. An experienced California healthcare license defense attorney can advocate for you with your licensing board, which may include negotiating a stipulated settlement. They may also represent you in a hearing.
Section 805 applies to physicians and surgeons, doctors of podiatric medicine, clinic psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, professional clinical counselors, dentists, licensed midwives, and physician assistants. This means that professionals other than doctors may be subject to disciplinary action based on an 805 report from a peer review committee.
Section 805 means that any decision by a peer review committee won’t just affect your hospital privileges. It can also impact your licensure and ability to work in your profession. If you are notified about a potential peer review evaluation of your work, you should reach out to a skilled California professional license defense attorney as soon as possible to talk about how an 805 report can potentially affect your license.
If you are informed that you are under scrutiny by a peer review committee at your hospital or healthcare facility, you should contact an experienced healthcare license defense lawyer immediately. Once a peer review committee takes an adverse action against you, they are required by California law to file an 805 report. This will lead to a board investigation and potential sanctions against your license.
While our law firm does not represent clients in peer review matters directly, we do offer legal representation for Board licensing and disciplinary matters. If an 805 report is filed with your licensing board, we can represent you and help defend your license.
Early intervention in board disciplinary matters is often the key to defending your license. In some cases, we may be able to present mitigating evidence and/or evidence of rehabilitation that may result in informal action, such as a citation and fine. If a formal Accusation is filed, we can advocate for you before your licensing board.
Once an Accusation has been filed, the potential for formal discipline (up to and including license revocation) is significantly higher. Our law firm takes a proactive, multi-pronged approach to license defense. We will perform our own investigation and work with medical experts when necessary to develop the strongest possible defense for our clients.
At the same time, we will work with you to develop a strategic plan that may include things such as therapy, additional education, credentialing, or rehabilitation. Whenever possible, we will negotiate a stipulated settlement with the board. This often results in more favorable outcomes, such as probation rather than license revocation.
If necessary, we will represent you in a formal contested hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings. We will advocate for you, presenting evidence and making arguments, asking the Board to determine that disciplinary action is not necessary or to impose a lower level of discipline.
If you are notified of a peer review, you should understand that the potential consequences could go beyond your hospital. Reach out to our law firm to schedule a confidential consultation with a California healthcare license defense attorney.
Peer review committees serve an important function in the healthcare world. However, if this committee decides to issue an adverse decision related to your privileges, it could impact your license. Our team of experienced lawyers will represent your interests and help you achieve the best possible outcome for your license if an 805 report is filed.
Based in San Diego, the Law Office of Nicole Irmer represents healthcare professionals throughout California in a range of licensing and disciplinary matters. We are experienced with all types of disciplinary matters, including those triggered by peer reviews. If you are undergoing a peer review and worry about the impact on your license, please contact our office immediately at (619) 237-6130 to discuss your matter with an experienced healthcare licensing defense attorney to understand the process, the potential outcome, and the steps to take to protect your license.
Related:
How to Request a Modification of Discipline for Your Healthcare License in California