Disciplinary Action Against Physicians Dropped 6% From 2006 to 2007, Report Finds

Disciplinary action by state medical boards against physicians decreased by 6% nationwide from 2006 to 2007, marking the third consecutive year the number has declined, according to a report by Public Citizen, the Los Angeles Times reports (Lin, Los Angeles Times, 4/23). Since 2004, considering the increasing number of licensed physicians, the rate has fallen 22%, according to the report (Dorschner, Miami Herald, 4/23). The group ranks states by calculating the number of disciplinary actions over the number of physicians who are licensed in the state (Los Angeles Times, 4/23).

Alaska was the highest in discipline with 8.33 actions per 1,000 physicians, and South Carolina was lowest with 1.18 actions per 1,000 doctors (Miami Herald, 4/23). Other high-ranking states were Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona and Nebraska; other low-ranking states were South Dakota, Wisconsin, Mississippi and Minnesota.

Sidney Wolfe, author of the report, said that more funding and staffing, in addition to better investigations and leadership at medical boards, are necessary to discipline physicians appropriately (Los Angeles Times, 4/23). "These numbers show that many states are thereby continuing to allow doctors to endanger the lives and health of some of their residents because of inadequate discipline," Wolfe said (Miami Herald, 4/23).

The report is available online (.pdf).