HOW TO USE THIS  REPORT

If you are selecting a doctor...

Call the medical board in the state where the doctor practices or used to practice. The board can frequently provide information on the physician's educational and specialty background, and whether the doctor has been disciplined or formally charged with misconduct. (Contact information for each state board is listed at the end of each state's introductory section in this book.)

Check to see if your local consumer group has published a guide to local doctors.

Look your doctor up in the American Medical Association's American Medical Directory or the Directory of Medical Specialists, which can be found in all medical libraries and many large public libraries. These directories list the physician's educational background and whether or not he or she is board-certified in a specialty. You should not select a self-designated specialist who has not been trained in the specialty field.

Ask the doctor for the names of hospitals where he or she has admitting privileges. Your local university teaching hospital will probably be the most selective about the physicians it admits to its staff. Also, should you need to be hospitalized, you will want a doctor who can admit you to the best hospital.

If your current doctor is on this list...

Check which state(s) or federal agency has disciplined him or her.

Request a copy of the doctor's disciplinary file from the state or federal agency. State agency addresses are listed in the "Addresses" section of each state section. (See Federal addresses)

Read the file before making a decision about whether to switch doctors. Some of the information contained in our report is sketchy and may not include a full explanation of the reason for the disciplinary action because states may not have sent these details to us. Some of the actions taken involve offenses that were administrative in nature and do not necessarily reflect on the physician's ability to practice.

Ask your doctor why he or she was disciplined. If your doctor can convince you that any problem that resulted in the disciplinary action has been resolved or is irrelevant to your future care, fine. Otherwise, you should consider switching.

If you have a complaint about a doctor...

Some examples of reportable actions are:

• if a doctor over-charged you or charged for treatment that was not delivered;
• if a physician failed to order or properly administer appropriate tests or treatment;
• if you suspect that a doctor may be abusing drugs or alcohol;
• if a physician inappropriately touched you in a sexual manner or conducted a sexual relationship with you while you were a patient;
• if you suspect a physician is unable to function mentally or physically.

Find out what degree your doctor has, whether a medical doctor (M.D.), osteopathic physician (D.O.), chiropractor (D.C.), podiatrist (D.P.M.), or dentist (D.D.S. or D.M.D.). Different state agencies often regulate these different professionals.

File your complaint with the state medical disciplinary agency. This agency is the only one that can remove dangerous or incompetent doctors from practice, impose limitations on a physician's license to practice, and truly protect other patients from being harmed. Your complaint could lead to the suspension or revocation of a doctor's license directly, or it could aid the medical board in detecting a pattern of poor medical care.

File the complaint in the state where the doctor is licensed--i.e., where his or her office is located. Turn to that state's section under our "State by State Listings." Find the "Address" heading. Look for the address of the agency that regulates that type of doctor.

If your care was within a hospital, you should also file a complaint with the hospital's peer review committee, which has the power to revoke or limit a doctor's privileges to practice there.

You may also want to file a complaint with Medicare (See Addresses).

Call the agency you have found to inquire about how to file a formal complaint. Some agencies have toll-free hotlines for complaints. Others require complaints to be filed on a specific form.

Ask whether your complaint will remain confidential. State laws vary. If the agency intends to reveal your name to your doctor, you may want to consider switching to another physician before pursuing any action.

File a written complaint containing as much information as possible. Make sure to include the doctor's full name, correctly spelled, office address, and the exact date when the conduct you are complaining of occurred. The state may also ask you to release your medical records for review.

Ask the agency to notify you of the outcome of your complaint.

If you want to improve medical quality assurance in the state or the nation...

Write your state representatives, your congressional representative, and your senators. Ask them to pass the legislation we recommend.