How Do I Check on Doctor Ratings

Choosing a doctor is an important decision. Finding a good doctor isn't just about disciplinary action. In addition to her knowledge, a good doctor doesn't just make you feel better physically; a good doctor will make you feel safe, strong and well-informed about your medical condition.

Professional Associations

• The American Medical Association maintains strict ethical guidelines for its more than 800,000 members. Being a member doesn't guarantee the doctor is ethical, but not being a member is a red flag they may not be.

  You can find out whether a doctor has been disciplined by the medical board after the 1960s using the Federation Physician Data Center. One of the benefits of this database is that a doctor's record is available even if he travels between states.

  Administrators in Medicine, a non-profit comprised of state medical board executive directors, sponsors the DocFinder database. This database also keeps disciplinary information on physicians

State Boards of Medicine

• You can also contact your state medical board to find out if a complaint has been filed by a physician in your state. Keep in mind that if a doctor has moved from another state, you will have to check all states where the doctor practiced.

Patient Ratings

• Some doctors may not have had a complaint filed against them, but they may keep patients waiting a long time, their staff are unpleasant or they don't spend enough time with patients. There are various private services that help consumers find consumer opinions about physicians. You can locate those by searching online using terms such as "physician ratings" or "doctor ratings."