Medical malpractice causes thousands of preventable illnesses, injuries, and deaths every year. As a patient, you have an interest in finding a physician with no record of medical malpractice, particularly before undergoing surgery or other dangerous procedures. Unfortunately, medical malpractice settlements are not readily available to the public in most states, and may even be given special privacy protections by state law.
Researching Doctors
The Internet provides patients with useful research tools, such as online doctor reviews. Keep in mind, however, that these often involve little screening to insure that they are posted by actual patients and that the statements made are truthful.
Some review sites are more trustworthy than others. For example, Yelp uses an algorithm to determine which reviews are most likely to be illegitimate and hides those from view. Angie’s List has a good reputation for honest reviews, but requires a paid membership.
Finding Medical Malpractice Claims
However, any consumer review site, no matter how unbiased, cannot tell you if a physician has a record of successful medical malpractice claims.
State licensing websites are another useful tool for patients looking to screen their physicians. All states require that doctors be licensed, and state licensing offices keep records of any disciplinary actions against licensed doctors.
Typically, this information is considered public and is available to search online. Although not every medical malpractice settlement will result in disciplinary action against a physician, some of the most egregious offenses do.
In Washington State, medical malpractice records are not publicly available online, however patients can search licensing records through the Washington State Department of Health.
If you have suffered due to the medical negligence of a Washington State physician or health care provider, call experienced Kirkland medical malpractice attorney Rob Kornfeld today, at 1-(800) 282-4878, or email Rob at Rob@Kornfeldlaw.com.
Search medical licensing records for doctors in your state
Alabama
Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners Physician Licensee Search
Alaska
Alaska Professional License Search.
Arizona
Arizona Medical Board: Licensee Search
Arkansas
Arkansas State Medical Board: License Actions
California
The Medical Board of California: Physician License Lookup
Unlike many other states, medical malpractice actions of over $30,000 are public information in the state of California. Search the database for your physician to see if he or she has any record of successful medical malpractice claims.
Colorado
Colorado Professional License Search
Choose “medical” as the license type to search for a physician.
Connecticut
Connecticut eLicensing Website
Delaware
Delaware Division of Professional Regulation: Search for a Physician’s License
Florida
Florida Department of Health Practitioner Profile Information
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Florida shares medical malpractice claim information through the Office of Insurance Regulation.
Georgia
Georgia Composite Medical Board: Look Up a Licensed Provider
Hawaii
Hawaii Licensee Complaints History Search
Hawaii provides a searchable database of complaints regarding professional licensees.
Idaho
Idaho Board of Medicine: Public Record Information
The State of Idaho provides detailed information about disciplinary actions.
Illinois
Illinois Division of Professional Regulation: License Look Up
Indiana
Indiana Online Licensing Search
Iowa
Iowa Board of Medicine: Find a Physician
Kansas
Kansas Board of Healing Arts: License Search
Kentucky
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure: Physician Search
Louisiana
Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners: Licensure Verifications
Maine
Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine
Maryland
Maryland Board of Physicians Practitioner Profile System
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine: Online Physician Profile Search
Michigan
Michigan Department of Community Health: Verify a License
Minnesota
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice: Physician Professional Profile Search
Mississippi
Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure: Physician Search
Missouri
Missouri Division of Professional Registration: Licensee Search
Montana
Montana Licensee Lookup System
Nebraska
Nebraska License Information System Search
Nevada
Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners: Search for a License
New Hampshire
New Hampshire State Board of Medicine
New Jersey
New Jersey Health Care Profile
New Mexico
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
New York
New York State Office of the Professions: Verification Search
North Carolina
North Carolina Medical Board: Look Up a Licensee
North Dakota
North Dakota State Board of Medical Examiners
Call the North Dakota Insurance Department for information about medical malpractice claims, provided to the public upon request, at 701-328-2440.
Ohio
Ohio License Center
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiner
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Department of Health: Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline
South Carolina
South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners
(Click on “licensee lookup)
South Dakota
South Dakota Board of Medical & Osteopathic Examiners
Tennessee
Tennessee Department of Health: Disciplinary Actions
Tennessee Department of Health: License Verification Search
Texas
Utah
Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing: Physician and Surgeon
Vermont
Virginia
Virginia Board of Medicine: Practitioner Information
Washington
Washington State Department of Health Provider Credential Search
West Virginia
West Virginia Board of Medicine
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing