As a patient, you have the right to know your doctor's background, including education, disciplinary action and medical malpractice record. This information helps ensure that you and your family receive the best possible medical care.The "Patient Health Information and Quality Improvement Act of 2000" gives New Yorkers access to physician "profiles" including biographical information and detailed reports on their doctor's disciplinary and malpractice records and similar records about hospitals and health plans. Senator Maltese was an active advocate and co-sponsor of the prototype legislation that enabled patients to obtain this information. Today's health care consumers want and need to know more about their doctor, hospital and health care provider.Specifically, the law (S. 8127, Chapter 542 of the Laws of 2000) created a detailed, on-line databank of physician "profiles" that patients can use to help in selecting a doctor. The profiles include: * biographical information, including practice partners and hospitals which have granted the doctor practice privileges; * details of criminal convictions within the past 10 years; * state disciplinary actions within 10 years; * malpractice judgments within 10 years; * malpractice settlements within 10 years, if there are more than two, or, in cases where there are just one or two and the Health Commissioner agrees that release of the information is relevant to patient health care decision making; * health care plans in which the doctor participates, including government funded plans. The web site also includes hospital and health care plan "report cards" providing detailed information about available services and issues related to quality. To find information about your doctor, you can call 1-888-338-6999 or click here
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