FSMB Opposes Legislative Efforts to Limit State Medical Boards’ Authority to Investigate Patient Harm

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 28, 2022) – The Federation of State Medical Boards’ Board of Directors released the following statement in opposition to a growing legislative trend aimed at limiting state medical boards’ ability to investigate complaints of patient harm:

“State medical boards protect patients by investigating complaints, evaluating the standard of care and taking disciplinary action when appropriate. The FSMB opposes legislation intended to limit a board’s ability to conduct this important work as it sets a dangerous precedent and puts the public at risk. State legislatures are encouraged to work with their state medical boards to uphold existing statutory authority to respond to complaints about the quality of care provided and take disciplinary action against physicians when necessary to protect the public."

About the Federation of State Medical Boards:

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is a national non-profit organization representing the medical boards within the United States and its territories that license and discipline allopathic and osteopathic physicians and, in some jurisdictions, other health care professionals. The FSMB serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best practices. The FSMB serves the public through Docinfo.org, a free physician search tool which provides background information on the more than 1 million doctors in the United States. To learn more about the FSMB, visit www.fsmb.org. You can also follow FSMB on Twitter (@theFSMB).