Nevada Medical Examiners Board Agree Changes are Needed
The Nevada Medical Examiners Board met and listened to a proposal that would streamline the licensing rules for that state as well as decreasing the amount of time it takes to investigate and discipline errant doctors. Louis Ling, a lawyer as well as the medical board chief, brought his concern that the disciplinary process seemed more concerned about doctors than their patients. He felt the process was “cloaked in confidentiality,” and that “a lack of transparency inevitably leads to accusations of favoritism and unaccountability. The current process is more than 30 years old and was created when there were only 820 active physicians. Today the Board licenses 4,400 doctors, plus physician assistants and respiratory therapists. Ling suggested that an investigative committee including lawyers outside of the Board be created to take over the investigation and adjudication of complaints. The team would review complaints, assign investigators, manage the investigation and mak e decisions regarding how to proceed with the complaints. The new proposal would also allow patients to tell the board how they were affected by an errant treatment. “What gets lost is the really human harm that’s been done in these matters,” Ling said in his critique of the current system. “We want to get patients back involved in your process so they’re part of your considerations.” Although the Board members agreed with most of the proposal they tweaked a few of the suggestions. It looks as if the Nevada Medical Examiners Board is taking definitive and positive steps in an effort to protect the public.
