[01:15 - 01:21]Introduction to the topic of medical errors and the high stakes of the medical profession

[02:21 - 02:27]Scene from a TV show featuring a doctor making a mistake while treating a frozen patient

[03:17 - 03:27]Statistics on medical errors and their impact on mortality rates

[03:17 - 03:27]Acknowledgement that most doctors are dedicated professionals, but a small fraction are negligent or incompetent

[03:17 - 03:27]Examples of egregious medical errors, including operating on the wrong baby and dancing during surgery

[04:44 - 04:53]Discussion of state medical boards and their role in regulating doctors

[05:09 - 05:15]Challenges and delays in the complaint and investigation process for medical boards

[06:10 - 06:16]Specific case of a doctor who continued practicing despite multiple offenses and a federal conviction

[07:28 - 07:38]Frustration for patients who are harmed during the lengthy complaint process

[00:00 - 07:38]Medical errors are a serious issue that can have dire consequences, with statistics showing that they are the third leading cause of death in the US. While most doctors are dedicated professionals, a small number can be negligent or incompetent. State medical boards are responsible for regulating doctors, but their processes can be slow and lack resources. This can result in doctors continuing to practice despite multiple offenses and even a federal conviction. Patients may be frustrated by the lengthy complaint process and the fact that doctors can continue treating patients during this time.

[07:38 - 07:45] A woman underwent a botched cosmetic surgery that resulted in sepsis and an unplanned double mastectomy.

[07:45 - 07:51]After the surgery, she learned troubling details about her doctor and a previous case where a patient died.

[07:52 - 07:59]The medical board of California reached a decision about the doctor in the 2018 patient death but it took effect in October.

[08:00 - 08:11]Within the five-month window before any discipline, the woman had her surgery.

[08:11 - 08:17]There is a need for change in laws and the medical board to better regulate and protect patients.

[08:34 - 08:42]Medical boards are often underfunded and slow, leading to patient suffering.

[09:03 - 09:14]Most medical boards are made up heavily of doctors, with only a quarter consisting of public members.

[09:20 - 09:30]Lack of public members can lead to doctors protecting their own and neglecting patient care.

[09:20 - 09:30]Some doctors on medical boards may not appreciate input from non-physician members.

[11:10 - 11:26]Doctors tend to protect their own, leading to leniency in punishments for misconduct.

[12:47 - 12:56]Even doctors who engage in sexual misconduct often face light punishments and can return to practice.

[13:18 - 13:28]Punishments for doctors can be rare, light, and slow, and information about their past can be difficult to access.

[13:28 - 13:41]The lack of transparency and accountability in the medical field puts patients at risk.

[14:44 - 14:54]The National Practitioner Data Bank, a federal repository of information on medical practitioners, is only accessible to select entities.

[14:54 - 15:06]The database is not always complete and not all problem doctors show up in it.

[15:06 - 15:23]Medical boards and hospitals have a responsibility to report actions taken against doctors, but many do not.

[07:38 - 15:23]In summary, there is a need for change in laws and regulations to better protect patients and hold doctors accountable for their actions.

[15:24 - 15:33] Hospitals can find ways to skirt reporting requirements for doctors who lose privileges.

[15:33 - 15:39]Some hospitals limit the length of suspensions to avoid reporting.

[15:40 - 15:50]This can be to protect a doctor's reputation, as seen in the case of a top-earning cardiac surgeon in New Hampshire.

[17:08 - 17:18]In 2017, 13 state boards did not check the NPDB at all.

[17:08 - 17:18]Some states rely on an honor system for doctors to self-report their disciplinary actions.

[18:11 - 18:23]In Texas, a news station found 49 doctors with a history of disciplinary action practicing with a clean record.

[18:11 - 18:23]Doctors who have been publicly disciplined in one state have been allowed to practice in another state with a clean license.

[19:55 - 20:02]Some state medical boards do not check the National Practitioner Data Bank when granting licenses to out-of-state doctors.

[20:16 - 20:23]Calls for reform have been ongoing for decades, but little has been done.

[20:33 - 20:40]This allows bad doctors to slip through the cracks.

[20:33 - 20:40]Some doctors have a pattern of moving from state to state to avoid consequences.

[20:41 - 20:47]The Massachusetts Board of Medical Examiners suffers from underfunding and understaffing.

[21:41 - 21:55]Lawmakers could add more public members to state medical boards and increase funding.

[21:41 - 21:55]All disciplinary actions, malpractice settlements, and hospital discipline should be easily accessible on a public website.

[21:56 - 22:04]State medical boards should be required to regularly check the NPDB.

[22:04 - 22:10]Society places a lot of trust in doctors and this issue needs to be addressed for the sake of good doctors and patients alike.

[15:24 - 22:42]The current system is flawed and needs to be fixed.