North Carolina Board Posts Malpractice Data on Physicians

North Carolina residents now have online access to information on malpractice lawsuits, convictions, suspensions, or other disciplinary actions taken against physicians and other medical professionals in the state.

The North Carolina Medical Board has expanded its Web site to include the data on the 35,000 licensed physicians and physician assistants it licenses and regulates.

The information includes malpractice suits that have been settled or lost since May 2008. The General Assembly established that cutoff date after medical providers, insurers and defense lawyers objected to posting older malpractice data.

The Web site www.ncmedboard.org allows consumers to search by a doctor’s name or by city.

The board has maintained a searchable database of information regarding its licensees’ education, training and professional background for several years. Those listings included board certifications and disciplinary history, if any, with the state medical board.

But a recent change in North Carolina law authorized the board to expand this information to include the malpractice liability payment information and additional details including final suspensions or revocations of hospital privileges; final disciplinary orders or actions of any regulatory board or agency; felony convictions; and misdemeanor convictions involving offenses against a person, offenses of moral turpitude, offenses involving the use of drugs or alcohol and violations of public health and safety codes.

Licensees are required to report this information to the board under state law.