While the odds are low that a given doctor may have a checkered past, it is difficult for New York patients to find out. This is according to findings from Consumer Reports after obtaining a list of all California doctors on probation as of the later portion of 2015. There were 500 doctors on probation at the time, and the offenses ranged from inappropriate sexual conduct with patients to practicing while under the influence.
While the odds are low that a given doctor may have a checkered past, it is difficult for New York patients to find out. This is according to findings from Consumer Reports after obtaining a list of all California doctors on probation as of the later portion of 2015. There were 500 doctors on probation at the time, and the offenses ranged from inappropriate sexual conduct with patients to practicing while under the influence.
In some cases, the negligence of doctors lead to surgical errors that left patients in serious pain. One instance involved a doctor who took out the wrong ovary while another resulted in a man with a thigh fracture having his leg amputated. The reason why patients may not know about their doctor’s past transgressions is because access is limited to certain entities.
In general, only doctors, hospitals and law enforcement have the right to access the National Practitioner Data Bank.. However, 82 percent of patients would prefer that probation records are released according to Consumer Reports. Furthermore, 66 percent believe that a doctor shouldn’t be allowed to see a patient until his or her probationary period has ended. The good news for patients is that less than 2 percent of doctors are responsible for half of all malpractice payments since 1990.
A negligent doctor can seriously harm patients and make their conditions worsened through a misdiagnosis or other error. People who have been affected by such errors often will have to face high medical expenses and lengthy recovery periods. A medical malpractice attorney can often be of assistance in pursuing financial compensation for those and other losses.
