Medical errors happen alarmingly often in Indiana and across the United States, causing untold harm to countless patients. The growing awareness of this issue has led many patients to ask, “How do I find a doctor’s malpractice history?” Unfortunately, doctors and medical facilities make it hard to find out about any instances of medical malpractice. Despite the healthcare industry’s reluctance to share information about malpractice cases, the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson believes it’s vital for patients to have this information. Learn how to look up malpractice history in Indiana below.

Check with the Indiana Patient’s Compensation Fund

The Indiana Patient’s Compensation Fund (PCF) plays an essential role in medical malpractice cases, as it’s the main method by which patients can recover compensation for their injuries. The PCF database lets you search for medical malpractice cases, look up the findings from the medical review panel that evaluated a case, and find out how much compensation (if any) the healthcare provider paid to settle a claim. This method is the most direct way to look up physician malpractice history for Indiana doctors or medical facilities.

Contact the Indiana Medical Licensing Board

The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency monitors the professional licenses for all doctors who practice in the state. The agency’s Indiana medical license lookup feature lets you see if a doctor has a valid license to practice in Indiana. You can also search for any disciplinary actions against a provider, which can indicate whether a doctor has had any issues with state regulators. This approach is a more indirect but still effective way to check a doctor’s malpractice history.

Review Court Records

Many Indiana malpractice claims do not reach the trial stage, and the fact a doctor faced a malpractice trial does not necessarily mean they made a mistake. That said, any legal action taken against an Indiana doctor will likely turn up in court records. If you’re looking for Indianapolis medical malpractice claims, look up Marion County court records.

Search Online Physician Rating Sites

Doctor rating sites like Healthgrades and Vitals provide detailed information on doctors and healthcare facilities, including reviews of doctors with malpractice histories. While these sites are not always reliable, a significant number of negative reviews or a large number of malpractice claims are red flags to watch for.

Read Reviews

Finally, you can read reviews for healthcare providers on Google or similar sites. Again, these reviews are not always the most reliable because they rely on patient reports instead of reviews by neutral parties, and they may not include specific information on medical malpractice claims. You likely want to stay away from doctors with a substantial number of negative reviews.

Contact an Indianapolis Medical Malpractice Attorney Now

If you’re concerned about Indiana malpractice, you can look up your doctor using these resources. However, these sites aren’t foolproof, and a doctor with great reviews can still make a mistake. If a doctor hurt you through malpractice, the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson can help you hold a negligent doctor accountable and seek fair compensation for your injuries. Call us today or complete our contact form for a free consultation.