Public Citizen, a non-profit, consumer rights advocacy group and think tank based in Washington, DC, recently released a report on sexual misconduct-related licensure, clinical privileges, and malpractice payment reports for physicians, including medical doctors, osteopathic doctors, and intern/resident physicians.
A “licensure” sanction refers to an action, such as revocation or restriction of a doctor’s medical license, taken by a medical board. A “clinical privileges” sanction refers to actions such as revocation or denial of clinical privileges, voluntary surrender of privileges, and restrictions on a doctor’s ability to practice. These actions are taken by hospitals, nursing homes, or managed care organizations.
The group studied physician reports in the National Practitioner Data Bank from Jan. 1, 2003, through Sept. 30, 2013. The analysis found that 1,039 physicians had one or more sexual misconduct-related reports, and of these, 786 (76%) had been disciplined only by a medical board.
The study also revealed that the remaining 253 physicians had one or more clinical privilege reports or malpractice payment reports related to sexual misconduct, but 177 did not have a report of state medical board licensure action for such misconduct.
