PORTLAND, Oregon — Patients trust their hospital and state medical board to protect them from potential harm caused by doctors. However, information about doctor malpractice and state medical board investigations aren’t freely available to the public.
A KGW investigation found more than 100 cases where doctors were investigated for serious misconduct and the public has no easy way to learn the details. In some of those cases, doctors who had their medical license revoked or suspended simply moved to another state to continue practicing medicine.
The National Practitioner Data Bank is the only federal database that tracks physician licensing and discipline records, but it’s only accessible to agencies like licensing boards, insurance companies and hospitals.
While patients don’t have access to a comprehensive look at their doctor’s record, there is a way to view some details by researching them online.
How to look up your doctor’s record
If your doctor is licensed in Oregon, you can search their record on the licensee search page of Oregon Medical Board’s website.
You will be asked to enter information about your doctor for at least one of the following fields: first name, last name, license number and city or 5-digit zip code. After you have entered the required information, hit the "search" button to view your doctor’s record.
What information does the Oregon Medical Board provide publicly?
Each state law varies, meaning state medical boards will provide different physician information. The Oregon Medical Board allows people to verify a current or past license, and view some disciplinary and malpractice information.
WATCH: Sick Medicine, investigative documentary