How Bad Does It Have to Get Before a Doctor Loses Their License?

In recent news, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon lost his license over the death of celebrity Kanye West's mother and a Sacramento dermatologist merely received probation after multiple infractions over the course of several years for using fake Botox on patients, although he had many other surgery-related incidents in his public record.

These news stories abound, yet one doctor told us if the board gets involved, there have been many other incidents that led up to that point. How bad does it have to get before a state medical board intervenes and revokes a medical license?

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2 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Many patients may get hurt before a medical license is revoked

Unfortunately, by the time a doctor typically loses their license, they leave many damaged patients in their wake. And typically, only the worst of the worst ever lose their license completely, or if they have an adverse result in a very high profile case. Patients find comfort in checking the Medical Board websites for violations, probation, letters of reprimand, etc. It is certainly bad when a doctor is on probation, has committed acts of negligence, or has many malpractice suits. ... more

Most Doctors on Your Side

The vast majority of physicians I know and have known practice a high level and ethical brand of medicine. However, there certainly are some rotten apples out there. Most physicians would appreciate these physicans be drummed out of our profession post haste. Unfotunately, it is much more difficult to do so now than it was forty-fifty years ago. One of my patients was a long time head of the Virginia Board of Medicine. He said tht getting rid of dishonest or incompetant doctors was... more