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Predicting risk for disciplinary action by a state medical board
Roberto Cardarelli1, John C Licciardone, Gilbert Ramirez
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 3701 Kirby Dr, Suite 600, Houston, TX 77005, USA. cardarel@bcm.tmc.edu
Abstract:
Disciplinary actions taken against physicians in the United States have been increasing over the last decade, yet the factors that place physicians at risk have not been well identified. The objective of this study is to identify predictors of physician disciplinary action. This case-control study used data from the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners from January 1989 through December 1998. Characteristics of disciplined physicians and predictors of disciplinary action for all violations and by type of violation were the main outcome descriptors. Years in practice, black physicians, and osteopathic graduates were positive predictors for disciplinary action. In contrast, female physicians, international medical graduates, and Hispanic and Asian physicians were less likely to receive disciplinary action compared with male, US allopathic, and white physicians, respectively. Most specialists, except psychiatrists and obstetrician-gynecologists, were less likely to be disciplined than were family practitioners, whereas general practitioners were more likely to be disciplined. More studies are needed to corroborate these findings.
Insights
Physician demographics like race and training background predict disciplinary actions. Black physicians and osteopathic graduates faced more actions, while female, Hispanic, Asian, and international medical graduates faced fewer.
Area of Science:
- Medical Professionalism
- Physician Accountability
- Health Policy Research
Background:
- Physician disciplinary actions in the U.S. have risen over the past decade.
- Identifying risk factors for these actions is crucial for understanding physician accountability.
- Previous research has not comprehensively identified predictors of disciplinary actions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key predictors of disciplinary action against physicians.
- To analyze characteristics associated with disciplinary actions for all violations and by violation type.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- Data were sourced from the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners (1989-1998).
- Physician characteristics and disciplinary action predictors were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Years in practice, Black race, and osteopathic graduates were significant positive predictors of disciplinary action.
- Female physicians, international medical graduates, and Hispanic/Asian physicians showed lower likelihoods of disciplinary action.
- Most specialists were less likely to be disciplined than family practitioners; general practitioners were more likely.
Conclusions:
- Physician demographics and training background are associated with disciplinary actions.
- Specific physician groups face differential risks for disciplinary actions.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings on physician disciplinary trends.
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