Is Your Doctor on Probation? In California You Won’t be Informed

To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge. – Confucius

We have stressed many times that patients looking for new healthcare resources should use the vast resources of the internet to get as much information as possible on a prospective doctor, hospital, or other medical providers. But some states may not make everything available online, and that is concerning.

The Medical Board of California Website at http://www.mbc.ca.gov/ gives residents the opportunity to verify the license of a physician, but the following information is not available for an online record:

• Complaints made to the Medical Board of California
• Investigations conducted by the Medical Board of California
• Misdemeanor convictions that occurred after January 1, 2007 and did not result in an accusation or disciplinary action being filed by the Board
• Some medical malpractice information, e.g., pending or dismissed cases. This information may be available at the local county courthouse in the “Civil Index.”

California Medical Malpractice

Also concerning is that the Medical Board has recently rejected a bid to require physicians to notify patients that they are on probation. The reasons for probation can include anything from poor record keeping to drug abuse, to sexual misconduct.

From the MontereyHerald.com: Marian Hollingsworth, an activist with the Consumer Union’s Safe Patient Project, told the medical board that she was horrified to discover some years ago that she had been referred to a doctor who was on probation for substance abuse and had once gone after a patient with a hatchet.

At the time the above article was published, only 500 of 131,000 physicians in California were on probation, and the vast majority of doctors are skilled, ethical, and have nothing to hide. Still, the public should have access to all information.

If you believe your doctor may have had issues regarding his or her fitness to practice medicine or any problems in the past the most straightforward approach may be to ask. Contact information for the Board, including mailing address and phone numbers are available by clicking here.

Everyone in every profession makes mistakes, but doctors are held to a higher standard. When a mistake crosses the line into negligence or malpractice, patients have rights to seek compensation if they are injured.

MalpracticeAttorneys.com is the leading online source for referrals to the finest attorneys in the nation, and our service is free to victims. Each attorney we partner with has been recognized for excellence and superior results over several years of practice. The first step to working with us is to register on our site and give us some basic information. We will be in touch with you promptly and in confidence.