How to Find Out About Medical Malpractice Against a Doctor
Medical malpractice, often shortened in the industry to simply "med mal," refers to substandard care, whether negligent or purposeful, on the part of a licensed physician. Many doctors who are found guilty of medical malpractice can still continue practicing medicine, sometimes even immediately after the case has been decided, with little or no restriction. Patients are increasingly worried about the prospect of being treated by a physician who has a history of medical malpractice. Many patients are looking for ways to find out about medical malpractice against a doctor to help them make more informed choices.
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Things You'll Need
- Physician's full name
- Address of physician's practice or facility where employed
- Application fee
Instructions
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Requesting Information Through a State Medical Board
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Contact the medical board in your state. Many medical boards will release information about medical malpractice against a doctor to consumers. You can find information about your medical board by searching online, or you can visit its website directly.
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Obtain a form to request information about the doctor's prior disciplinary history. Complete the form by filling in the doctor's basic information, including his first and last name, the name and address of his practice or the facility where he works, and any other identifying information you may have.
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State what information you are requesting. Most state medical boards that release background information will provide a list of any disciplinary actions, including licenses revocations and suspensions, in addition to any medical malpractice suits.
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Pay any applicable request or copying fees. Some boards require you to pay an application fee before the request can be processed; most will charge you for any copying involved.
Requesting Information Through the Federation of State Medical Boards
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Visit the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) website. There, you can find a comprehensive list of all practicing physicians and medical professionals. The organization provides detailed information about medical malpractice and other disciplinary actions against doctors to the general public.
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Sign up for an account through the website. There is currently no fee to join the FSMB as a consumer. You will need to provide your name, a valid e-mail address, and other information to join.
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Search for the doctor or medical professional you want to research. If a physician is not listed on the FSMB, this could be a sign that he is not a licensed physician. Check with your local state medical board to find out more and report the individual if he turns out not to be licensed.
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Pay the fee to access the report. Though membership is free, there is a $9.95 fee to download and review each doctor's report. Once you pay the fee, you can download the information immediately and print it from home for future reference.
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Tips & Warnings
--Some state medical boards now have an online system set up to handle requests for information about medical malpractice against a doctor. Check with your state's medical board to see if you can request and view the information online, or visit the board's website to learn more.
--The FSMB provides information about medical malpractice against doctors and other medical professionals in all 50 states, Canada, and some American territories.
--If you cannot find your doctor listed in the FSMB database, double-check the name and address you submitted. Also, doctors who have been licensed recently may not appear in the database.
Not all state medical boards will release information about medical malpractice against a doctor to consumers. Some reserve the information for employers and professional licensing groups only.
