Opinion ID: 900358
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Waiver of Right to Hearing

Text: [¶ 11.] Section VIII of the Queen of Peace Medical Staff Bylaws grants physicians a right to due process before termination of staff privileges. On the other hand, Condition No. 4 and the voluntary relinquishment waived this right. The waiver was applicable only to acts which violated the conditions as set forth in the Conditions Placed Upon Dr. Sorrels' Associate Medical Staff Privileges at Queen of Peace Hospital. [¶ 12.] Sorrels believes he waived his contractual right to due process only if he personally ingested drugs. He has some support for this interpretation from at least one member of the Hospital's Ad Hoc Judicial Review Committee, who believed that was the intent behind the agreements. Yet, the voluntary relinquishment specifically stated if Sorrels committed acts which would violate the conditions imposed on his staff privileges he waived all rights of due process. Opinions from members of the medical staff on the scope of the waiver will not override explicit contractual language unless the terms are uncertain or fail to deal with subjects intended to be addressed. AFSCME Local 1922, 444 N.W.2d at 12; MEA/AFSCME Local 519 v. City of Sioux Falls, 423 N.W.2d 164, 168 (S.D.1988). [¶ 13.] Absent any discernible ambiguity in the written waiver, Sorrels cannot prove a clear and indisputable right to a hearing, thus he cannot compel the Hospital to provide him one. The circuit court abused its discretion in granting the writ of mandamus. We reverse and remand with direction to dismiss the writ. [¶ 14.] MILLER, C.J., AMUNDSON, and GILBERTSON, JJ., and SRSTKA, Circuit Judge, concur. [¶ 15.] SRSTKA, Circuit Judge, sitting for SABERS, J., disqualified.