Patient Safety Functions of State Medical Boards in the United States

The state medical board system in the United States plays a crucial role in promoting patient safety and is a primary vessel through which policymakers are able to regulate healthcare. The system's origins, and how it has evolved in tandem with the practice of medicine generally, have heavily shaped its current structure and scope of activities. In particular, the ethos of a largely self-regulated profession has corresponded to a heavy physician influence. In light of this influence, maintaining legitimacy continues to require careful efforts by the state boards to avoid any perceived professional protectionism.