Has Your Doctor Been Sued? Here’s How to Find Out
While the state does allow you to see if a doctor has been sued in the past, it doesn’t tell you if a doctor is currently under investigation. It also doesn’t say if they are currently practicing under restrictions as part of the Alabama Physician Health Program, which provides early detection and treatment of doctors who have problems with substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, and inappropriate behavior.
Still, it is best to know as much as possible when choosing a medical provider.
Alabama Medical Board Records
Every state makes medical board records public. The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners & Medical Licensure Commission’s website has a search function that is easy to use:
- Go to the website.
- Click the “Searchable Licensee Database” at the top right of the screen.
- Enter the doctor’s first and last name.
- Select “MD” as the license type unless you’re searching for someone other than a medical doctor.
- Click “Search.”
- Find your doctor on the list and click on the printer icon in the “Details” section.
- Scroll down and look for the “Public File” line.
- If it says NO, then the board hasn’t publicly disciplined your doctor.
- If it says YES, click the “Download Document” link to bring up all documents related to any public disciplinary actions the Board and the Medical Licensure Commission have taken against the doctor.
Federal Court Records
Federal courts keep records on the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website. It’s also easy to use, but you’ll need to pay to get access:
- Go to the site.
- Click “Register for an Account” on the left of the menu bar.
- Follow the prompts to create an account.
- Begin your search
Your Own Search
Sometimes a simple Google search will help fill any information gaps. Search the doctor’s name with keywords like “malpractice” or “patient complaint” and see if anything comes up.
You can also check sex offender registry sites to see if your doctor’s name appears.
