Weak Oversight of Doctors Places Patients at Risk
25September2013
Across the country, hundreds of doctors with multiple medical malpractice claims on their records continue to retain their licenses, in spite of being banned by hospitals and other medical facilities. That is because in many cases, state medical boards have not bothered to take action against these doctors.
According to an investigation by USA Today, the state licensing system is riddled with loopholes. Across the country, state medical boards allow doctors to continue to practice medicine, after findings of serious misconduct, placing patients at risk.
Many doctors who were barred from hospitals continue to practice because their medical licenses have not been revoked. Hundreds have paid millions of dollars to settle medical malpractice lawsuits, which had no effect on their licenses or ability to see patients.
USA Today relied on data from the National Practitioner Data Bank, medical malpractice settlement agreements from around the country, and disciplinary actions by hospitals.
The report found:
- Between 2001 and 2011, nearly 6,000 doctors had their clinical practices restricted or were banned by hospitals for exposing patients to harm or for professional misconduct that involved patient care. However, only 3,000 doctors were fined by state medical boards or faced any kind of license suspension or restriction by the state.
- Even when their misconduct risked serious injury to patients, some doctors are allowed to continue to practice. Approximately 250 doctors sanctioned by medical care facilities were cited as an “immediate threat to health and safety,” yet kept their medical licenses. Approximately 900 physicians were cited for negligence, malpractice or incompetence and kept their practicing with no action on their medical license.
- Nearly half of hospitals (47%) had never reported revoking or restricting a doctor’s clinical privileges to treat patients, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, which administers the National Practitioner Data Bank.
The Seattle medical malpractice lawyers at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC represent victims of medical negligence in Seattle and across Washington.
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