Our clients often ask us if they did something wrong by not doing more research on their doctor before a surgery that led to medical malpractice. This question is difficult to answer, though, because doctors and hospitals do their best to mislead patients into thinking that they are the best of the best. No matter how much research you do, you are bound to only find self-congratulatory posts and videos. Doctors claim (without supporting documents) that they are the “top surgeon” in Phoenix or that they are “the most respected physician” in their specialty. All of this is fluff to convince patients to use the doctor.
If you would like to do research, a good place to start is www.azmd.gov. You can look-up your doctor to see if he or she has been sanctioned by the Arizona Board of Medical Examiners. This, however, will not show everything. You can also check the website for the Maricopa County Superior Court to see if your doctor has been sued. After that, a simple google search of the doctor will show how other patients rate him or her on websites like Healthgrades, Sharecare, and Doximity. If you are looking for a specific type of specialist, you can go to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) website certificationmatters.org to see if the doctor you are considering has the appropriate board certification(s) required to treat your illness or condition. If the doctor practices at a hospital or a group, you can go to your state’s department of health services and research the facility or group on their website where you can find information about complaints against them.
Before making your final decision, you can always set an appointment with the doctor and ask them questions specific to medical conditions you have and/or medications you take to see if they are the best fit for you. Do not let the doctor give you answers that do not make sense. If he/she tells you he/she has performed this surgery in the past, ask how many times. Ask if there were any unexpected outcomes. The doctor may not tell you the truth, but hopefully you will get an honest answer.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice due to the negligence of a doctor of hospital, contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers at Snyder & Wenner, P.C.
