Photo credit: Tima Miroshnichenko
Let the Patient Beware
New York has historically been at the forefront of medical and technological advancements. However, in recent years, the state has fallen behind, now ranking 22nd out of 50 states in medical and technological innovation, according to a WalletHub report cited by Becker’s Hospital Review.
One of the most important innovations we need to implement is an improved system for tracking and verifying doctors’ licenses. A computerized nationwide system that prevents delays in disciplinary actions across states is crucial. There have been cases where doctors who lost their licenses in one state continued practicing in another due to slow inter-state communication and reporting gaps. For example, one doctor had their medical license revoked in New Jersey due to documented erratic behavior and psychiatric hospitalizations, yet they were still allowed to practice in New York for months before action was taken. Another doctor, previously a gynecologist who switched to plastic surgery, had their license revoked in New York for gross incompetence and negligence but was still permitted to practice in New Jersey. A third case involved a doctor who surrendered licenses in Louisiana, California, and New York after multiple surgical errors, yet was able to continue practicing in Ohio with an unblemished record.
Medical malpractice in New York has been a growing concern. Between 2012 and 2022, New York led the nation with 15,951 medical malpractice claims filed against healthcare professionals, more than 3,500 cases higher than the next state. This equates to approximately 19 cases per 10,000 residents. While these numbers are high, the total cost incurred by the healthcare industry in lawsuits was only $6.85 million, ranking New York 40th lowest out of 50 states. These statistics indicate that malpractice is prevalent, yet patients are often left without substantial recourse.
To keep patients safe, we must implement crucial reforms:
- Establish a mandatory nationwide reporting system that all state medical boards must use to ensure real-time updates on disciplinary actions.
- Implement automatic nationwide license suspension, meaning a doctor losing a license in one state cannot practice elsewhere without thorough review.
- Transition to a national medical licensing system or a highly regulated compact ensuring uniform disciplinary enforcement across states.
- Require public transparency with a national searchable database for patients to verify their doctors’ credentials and any past violations.
- Enforce biometric fingerprint-based background checks for all medical license applications.
- Implement real-time verification systems for hospitals and employers to receive immediate alerts if a physician they employ faces disciplinary action.
- Expand and enforce the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) to include all states and ensure automatic enforcement of disciplinary measures.
- Impose severe penalties for states that fail to report disciplinary actions promptly and criminal consequences for physicians who attempt to hide past revocations.
New York has long been a leader in innovation, and it must reclaim that status by pioneering reforms that ensure patient safety. Without these measures, we leave room for dangerous loopholes that allow medical malpractice to continue unchecked.