Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'serious disciplinary action' mean?
Serious disciplinary actions include license revocations, suspensions, surrenders under investigation, probations with practice restrictions, and other significant adverse orders from a state medical board. Minor actions such as letters of concern or fines are generally not included in this count.
Where does PlainDiscipline's data come from?
Disciplinary rate data comes from Public Citizen Health Research Group HRG Publication #2235, covering the 2021–2023 period. Licensed physician counts come from the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) Physician Data Summary Statistics 2023. State board contact information comes from official state government websites.
Does a high disciplinary rate mean a state is doing a better or worse job protecting patients?
It depends on perspective. A higher rate could mean the board is more active and aggressive in protecting patients. A lower rate could mean fewer physician violations occurred, or it could mean the board is under-resourced and not catching problems. Context matters — look at board resources, complaint processes, and peer comparisons together.
Can I look up whether a specific doctor has been disciplined?
No. PlainDiscipline provides aggregate state-level statistics, not individual physician records. To check a specific physician's license and disciplinary history, contact your state medical board directly or visit the FSMB's DocInfo service at docinfo.org.
How do I file a complaint against a physician?
Contact the state medical board in the state where the physician is licensed. Each state board profile on PlainDiscipline includes the board's website, phone number, and contact information. Filing with your state board is the official channel for patient complaints about physician conduct.
Why do disciplinary rates vary so much between states?
State medical board activity varies due to differences in board funding, staffing levels, complaint intake processes, legal standards, and enforcement culture. A state with a lower rate is not necessarily safer — it may simply have fewer resources to investigate complaints.
Is PlainDiscipline affiliated with any medical board or government agency?
No. PlainDiscipline is an independent information portal built by Kiznis.Studio. We present publicly available data from Public Citizen and FSMB publications. We are not affiliated with any state medical board, Public Citizen, FSMB, or any government agency.