Doctors Let Skills Slide

Glenn Phillips

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While most of the doctors agreed they needed to keep up with changes in the profession and have their competence reviewed, only 31 percent had undergone a competency review in the past three years. Dr. James Thompson, chief executive officer of the Federation of State Medical Boards, said one problem may be that doctors know there is not much that can be done to help doctors who are struggling to be competent.

"There are restrictions on state medical boards that inhibit their ability to go after physicians aggressively," Thompson said. Medical Boards cannot act unless someone reports a problem doctor.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.