If you have a major surgery coming up, you might be nervous about the ways in which it could go wrong. You want to be sure your doctor knows their stuff—whether you are facing a risky procedure or not. No doctor is going to tell you that they are incompetent—so how can you be sure of their track record?
The information is out there
The good news is that there are plenty of records you can access. Each state licenses all of its practicing doctors and makes it easy to check on their license status. You can verify your doctor’s license or even file a complaint right on the Michigan Board of Medicine’s website.
Most medical malpractice lawsuits are available to the public as well. You can see who was involved and what the verdict was unless the case is confidential. The records might be available online or you may have to pay for a paper copy.
Repeat offenders are common
Finding out that your doctor has never been sued for malpractice could help you find peace of mind. If you find out that they have made mistakes, you might end up more anxious than before. Your concern is valid. The more a doctor has committed malpractice, the more likely they are to do it again.
A lawsuit does not automatically mean malpractice occurred
Keep in mind that court records also show cases where doctors disproved malpractice. A patient might have sued your doctor despite no mistakes occurring at all. Doing careful research before your surgery might help reveal whether you should be worried or not.
If you’re facing a major operation, you want the best medical care possible. Knowing who will be performing your surgery can help you feel more confident going into the procedure.
