Ark. judge rules against Baptist

A judge in Little Rock, Ark., has ruled that six doctors whose privileges were stripped by Baptist Health over their financial interest in a competing specialty hospital can continue to work at Baptist until a full hearing is held on the merits of the case. The physicians sued in federal court in February, arguing that the hospital's decision was illegal. That lawsuit was rejected, and the doctors filed suit in Pulaski County Circuit Court against the hospital, which contends that the physicians' financial involvement in a competing hospital is a conflict of interest. Judge Collins Kilgore, who ruled Monday for the doctors, wrote in his ruling that "it appears likely that the plaintiffs will ultimately prevail at trial" on key legal issues. -- by Michael Romano