The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "doctor's license" ...
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StarTribune: Discipline Deferred
A six-month investigation by the Star Tribune found that the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, once considered a national leader in the regulation of licensed physicians, often doesn’t punish doctors whose mistakes harm patients or who demonstrate a pattern of substandard care. After analyzing information compiled by a national databank and reviewing thousands of pages of court and medical board records, the reporters found that the board, which regulates 20,000 physicians in the state, has been reluctant to punish some doctors who have harmed patients, including more than 100 doctors who were disciplined by other states and even doctors who lost privileges to practice at Minnesota hospitals. The investigation also showed that the board lags behind boards in other states in disclosing information to the public, including data on malpractice judgments or settlements. It also doesn’t disclose whether doctors have been disciplined by regulators in other states or lost their privileges to work in hospitals and other facilities for surgical mistakes and other problems.
Tags: Board of Medical Practice; physicians; doctors; punishment; patients
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Doctor Lost Priviliges -- But Kept Clean Record
What started as an investigation of one doctor's questionable practices, led to a larger expose on St. Louis hospital violations and the state's lack of punishment for the doctors that are reported. The reporters found that most information about Missouri's problem doctors and unsafe hospital condition is swept under the rug.
Tags: hospital; FDA; doctors; hospital inspection; medical license
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Prescription for Disaster
This series examined the regulation of doctors in Arizona and found a number of loopholes that allow dangerous practitioners to diagnose Arizona residents and operate on them.
Tags: malpractice; Arizona; loopholes; patient neglect; homeopathic medical licensing; alternative medicine
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Dangerous Doctors
"The investigation found that the state Medical Examining Board's disciplinary process favors doctors over patients." Often the board was slow to follow complaints, and kept investigations secret.
Tags: doctors; medicine; medical examining board; complaints; investigations; review; license; physicians; patients; Department of regulation and Licensing
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Protecting the Doctors
KMGH-TV found that when Colorado doctors are accused of sexual assault and/or improper conduct investigations are handled by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. The administrative investigation reports all criminal acts and findings to the state's attorney general who represents the agency. Because the A.G. represents the agency, it has no obligation under the law to notify or counsel the victim. The result is many doctors simply surrender their license and then are free because no charges are pressed before statute of limitations runs out. Doctors are then able to file for a reinstatement of medical license anywhere, because files are sealed. After this report legislation was passed to close this loop hole.
Tags: medicine; doctors; sexual assault; investigation; medical license; Colorado; victim rights; statute of limitation; Kim Nagel; Attorney General
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Target 12 Investigators: Checking Up On Your Doctor
"It is common practice for doctors to hold medical licenses in multiple states, but...it can take a significant amount of time for sanctions issued in other states to be verified by the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. ...In the meantime any patient checking that doctor's record would have found a clean slate, with no indication of the out-of-state sanction or the Rhode Island board’s investigation. We further uncovered that under the current system the only way for patients to truly check a doctor's background is to find out each state the doctor has ever been licensed in and check with each licensing authority individual."
Tags: medical license; doctor; Rhode Island; sanctions;
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Doctor Licensing Investigation
"The story revealed that Pennsylvania has allowed doctors with criminal records to continue practicing medicine. In one case a doctor who was convicted of a crime that actually occurred inside the hospital was not disciplined. We learned state law leaves it up to the doctors to report their own crimes to the licensing board."
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License To Harm
A series that focuses on how the state of Washington has let hundreds of doctors, counselors and others keep practicing despite their sexual misconduct with patients.
Tags: Sexual abuse; sex; doctor; counselor; malpractice; misconduct
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Patients in the Dark
The story investigated what patients aren't being told about their doctors, and what they are unable to find out even if they ask. Utah law prevents patients knowing whether a doctor is currently in treatment for substance abuse, or has been in the past, hospital disciplinary history, basic information about malpractice suits etc. The Physicians Licensing Board, meanwhile, seldom severely restricts the practice of even the most troubled doctor, preferring to provide repeated 'second' chances.
Tags: medicine; doctors; malpractice; Utah Physicians Licensing Board; public awareness; Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing; National Practitioners Data Bank
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Special Treatment: Disciplining Doctors
Hospitals and state medical boards across the United States have given physicians repeated chances to keep practicing, despite well-documented alcohol and drug problems. Even doctors that have criminal records do not have their doctor's licenses revoked. This is due partially to the practice that allows doctors to move to another state and start a new job before the paperwork being slowly processed caught up with them. It is also due to loopholes in the National Practitioner Data Bank.
Tags: doctors; doctor's license; alcohol; drug problems; criminal records; National Practitioner Data Bank