Debate over how the Connecticut Medical Examining Board operates fires up as critics express concerns that the board is being too lenient with physicians who commit "egregious" patient safety violations, according to a Greenwich Time news report.
Critics have long voiced their outrage that the board and the state Department of Public Health are not doing their part in protecting the public. On the one hand, the board has been accused of being too lenient with physicians and allowing them to keep their licenses after committing medical errors. On the other hand, DPH has been blamed for not conducting thorough enough investigations.
DPH is responsible for investigating complaints against physicians and presenting that evidence to the board, according to the news report. Board members have said they are often forced to make decisions on claims based on very little evidence. Some board members also agree the board's process is "antiquated," as it is comprised of volunteer physicians and community members who are not compensated for their time on the board. DPH also faces very little funding from the state, according to the news report.
Comparatively, most states have independent medical boards that are funded by physician licensing fees. The funds allow the boards to conduct investigations with their lawyers and see complaints through the entire process. For the last decade, the Connecticut board has ranked among the worst in the country, based on the number of license revocations, surrenders and suspensions.
DPH and board members have disputed this data, but public outcry has caused state officials to reconsider how the board should operate. "If there are proposals made by the board or other interested stakeholders about how to improve the operation of the board, the administration would be happy to consider those recommended procedures," said Andrew McDonald, general counsel to Gov. Dannel Malloy.
Read the news report about the Connecticut Medical Examining Board.
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Critics have long voiced their outrage that the board and the state Department of Public Health are not doing their part in protecting the public. On the one hand, the board has been accused of being too lenient with physicians and allowing them to keep their licenses after committing medical errors. On the other hand, DPH has been blamed for not conducting thorough enough investigations.
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DPH is responsible for investigating complaints against physicians and presenting that evidence to the board, according to the news report. Board members have said they are often forced to make decisions on claims based on very little evidence. Some board members also agree the board's process is "antiquated," as it is comprised of volunteer physicians and community members who are not compensated for their time on the board. DPH also faces very little funding from the state, according to the news report.
Comparatively, most states have independent medical boards that are funded by physician licensing fees. The funds allow the boards to conduct investigations with their lawyers and see complaints through the entire process. For the last decade, the Connecticut board has ranked among the worst in the country, based on the number of license revocations, surrenders and suspensions.
DPH and board members have disputed this data, but public outcry has caused state officials to reconsider how the board should operate. "If there are proposals made by the board or other interested stakeholders about how to improve the operation of the board, the administration would be happy to consider those recommended procedures," said Andrew McDonald, general counsel to Gov. Dannel Malloy.
Read the news report about the Connecticut Medical Examining Board.
Related Articles on Patient Safety:
Patient Safety Tool: Hand Hygiene Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire
Study: Only Half of Providers Self-Report Medical Errors
Joint Commission Publishes 'Do Not Use' List Fact Sheet