Medical Board Website Allows Californians To Check Doctor Discipline
An online database of physician disciplinary records managed by the Medical Board of California has been called one of the best of its kind in the country, the Sacramento Bee reports.
Users can access the no-cost database to find information on physicians who have been:
- Accused of wrongdoing by state regulators,
- Involved in malpractice cases; or
- Convicted of a felony.
Database Comparisons
Other online databases include similar information but often charge fees or have less complete records.
For example, HealthGrades charges a one-time fee to review whether a physician has faced malpractice charges or disciplinary problems.
Meanwhile, the consumer website Angie's List charges a monthly fee for access to consumer ratings.
Discipline Against Doctors
According to the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, California has one of the best consumer websites on physician discipline. However, the group also notes that the state has one of the worst rates in the country for taking serious disciplinary action against physicians accused of wrongdoing.
During the past two years, the Medical Board has opened investigations into about one-sixth of the more than 6,000 complaints against doctors it received. The board issues formal accusations against about 240 physicians annually (Dahlberg, Sacramento Bee, 7/12). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.