Complaint Backlog Puts Patients at Risk
nevada, April 27, 2016 (Newswire.com) - A bad doctor can ruin a patient's day in no time at all. A rushed diagnosis, the wrong prescription, a nip where there should have been a tuck can have lasting, even lethal consequences. For this reason, patients have the right to file a complaint with the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. It is their responsibility to review the complaint and take the appropriate disciplinary action to ensure that negligent doctors are not allowed to practice medicine in the state.
In 2015, 1,078 complaints were filed by Nevada residents. These were added to an existing backlog of 525 complaints which had been filed in 2014. Typically, it takes the NBME between six and nine months to review a complaint and make a determination as to whether or not disciplinary action is appropriate. However, it is not unheard of for some complaints to take a year or longer to resolve. Last year, a mere 16 physicians were disciplined for their negligent actions.
Nevada medical malpractice attorney - http://mattsharplaw.com/practice-areas/personal-injury/medical-malpractice/
Matthew L. Sharp, Nevada medical malpractice attorney
Making Smart Healthcare Decisions
Patients can use the Licensee Lookup feature on the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners website. The database maintains a list that includes the education and any disciplinary actions of all physicians, Respiratory Care Practitioners, Perfusionists, and physician assistants in the state.
Complaints & Settlements are an Indicator of Patient Safety
The New England Journal of Medicine recently released a study showing that from 2005 through 2014, a mere 1% of physicians were accountable for nearly 32% of paid medical malpractice claims. This statistic shows the real value medical complaints can have in establishing whether a physician should be allowed to practice within Nevada. Having an accurate and up to date record of the complaints filed against these physicians and the outcomes of their medical malpractice cases can help prevent the next patient from becoming the next victim.
Seeking Justice & Compensation
The NBME backlog and extremely low disciplinary rate shows that they don't have the ability to adequately investigate, challenge, and discipline negligent physicians. Fortunately, patients and their Nevada medical malpractice attorney can pursue claims in civil court. This is a more direct, and more thorough option that is often the only way to receive compensation following the negligent actions of a physician.
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