Minnesota Worse In Disciplining Doctors

A report was released this week by Public Citizen which found that Minnesota was the worst at disciplining doctors. The findings are based on data from the Federation of State Medical Boards, specifically on the number of disciplinary actions taken against doctors in 2008. Public Citizen said it calculated the rate of serious disciplinary actions (revocations, surrenders, suspensions and probation/restrictions) per 1,000 doctors in each state. The number of actions in 2008 was averaged over the past three years to establish the state’s rank.

These are troubling findings , but lead to some interesting questions:

Minnesota has-

• lowest malpractice rates,
• the first adverse reporting system,
• few malpractice claims filed

That doesn’t seem consistent. The tort reformers must be in a quandary trying to explain this one. Seems to me this should be one of their hell holes or a place the doctors are fleeing from due to skyrocketing rates. Or maybe it’s all not connected?

"It’s completely meaningless without putting it into context," said Ruth Martinez, head of the complaint review unit of the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. She didn’t dispute the numbers, but said Minnesota puts a greater emphasis than other states on helping doctors correct problems, through treatment and educational programs, rather than punishing them.

There have been stories of increased adverse events in the state. Hopefully, those findings and this report will help find what areas need to be improved.