How to Check on the Disciplinary Action of a Doctor
According to the Institute of Medicine, a recent research report on medical fatalities found that 98,000 patients were killed in error while undergoing a medical procedure or through general errors committed by physicians. The average American may not know how to check the disciplinary record of their doctors and subsequently may be putting their health in danger. You can check up on a doctor and determine if your health care may be compromised through becoming a patient of an unscrupulous physician.
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Instructions
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Locate the full name of the physician and any licensing information, such as the medical license number and the state the physician is licensed to practice in. If you don't have the license number of the doctor, go to the secretary of state website where you believe the doctor is licensed and perform a license check by first and last name.
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Go to www.mdnationwide.org and locate the "Medical Doctor Rating" link located at the top of the website.
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Click on the "Disciplinary Actions" link located in the drop down box.
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Contact the state medical board in the state where the doctor practices. If the doctor has any complaints that are unfounded or still under investigation, this information will not usually be public. Complaints that have been substantiated and settled do become a public record and you can request this information from the medical board.
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Tips & Warnings
When looking for disciplinary information on a physician, always check to see if the physician is listed under a different name. Some doctors use a short name or nickname. A doctor whose full name is Dr. Frederico Kozeransky (name is for article purposes only), may use Dr. Fred Oz in his medical practice.
Gossiping or otherwise providing information to others about a doctor who is under investigation can lead to a potential lawsuit from the physician. Should the investigation prove to be unfounded, the physician may be able to sue for loss of income due to slander and defamation of character.
