A Perspective on the Emergence of Healthcare Sham Peer Reviews in Australia—Past, Present, and Future

摘要

The phenomenon of sham peer review, first described in the U.S., is spreading internationally. Three case reports at different stages in their proceedings, taken from the files of Health Practitioners Australia Reform Association (HPARA), illustrate similarities to the methods used in the U.S.Sham peer review contributes to Australia’s current unenviable record of having some of the world’s highest rates of medical litigation. Medical litigation has descended into contests of fact and circumstance, aided by the “expert witness” who may provide sham reviews.