FILE A COMPLAINT
You may want to file a compliant with State medical regulating authorities: - if you or a family member suffered an adverse effect of treatment that you were not warned about - if you wouldn’t have taken the treatment if you had known what could happen - if your doctor did not give the opportunity for full informed consent (As a separate action, you may also want to file a MedWatch report to the FDA about what happened.) HOW TO REPORT FAILURES OF FULL INFORMED CONSENT TO YOUR STATE MEDICAL BOARD 1. All complaints must be in writing. This is a sample letter form that can guide your written complaint. 2. See the list below for web links and postal mail addresses of State medical disciplinary authorities. In some states there are two different agencies, one for M.D.s and another for D.O.s. Several states have online complaint forms that can be completed on the computer, or printed out and then mailed or faxed. 3. Write only what is necessary to show that there was no informed consent. Do not feel that you have to give all kinds of personal medical information, or reveal anything embarrassing or potentially damaging to yourself. You must sign the complaint with your name and address. You may also want to include your email and phone number. Anonymous complaints are not taken seriously. 4. Feel free to send a copy to the doctor, although this is not necessary. This is not a legal action and does not imply that there will be a lawsuit. 5. It is important to ask for a response to your letter. Notify the Medical Accountability Network in case you do not get a timely response.
S A M P L E
Medical Authority for the State of _______________ [Address Here] Complaint Regarding: ___________________ [Doctor’s Name] To Whom It May Concern: Be sure to include these parts in your letter: -Who the patient is -Your relationship to the patient (if you are writing on behalf of a family member) -Doctor’s name -What drug was prescribed -When it was prescribed (approximately) -Describe how there was a lack of full informed consent. -What happened when the drug was taken, bad effects, etc. (Describe in a few sentences what happened - keep it very brief) -Describe any harm you think may have resulted. -Explain how you think that it may not have happened if there had been full informed consent – that if the patient or the family had been told what could happen with this drug then they may have not consented to take it in the first place, or they would have known what to watch out for in terms of side effects, etc. -State your opinion that the failure to give informed consent was unethical. -Ask what action will be taken. -Ask for a response to your letter. Sign with your name and address. (Make a copy for yourself.) |
ADDRESSES AND LINKS TO STATE BOARDS
FOR MEDICAL DOCTORS (M.D.) AND DOCTORS OF OSTEOPATHIC (D.O.) Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners P.O. Box 946
Montgomery, AL 36101-0946
(Street address: 848 Washington Ave.)
(334) 242-4116 Fax:(334) 242-4155
(800) 227-2606
http://www.albme.org/ Alaska State Medical Board 550 West Seventh Ave., Suite 1500
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 269-8163 Fax:(907) 269-8196
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pmed.htm Arizona Medical Board 9545 East Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-5514
(480) 551-2700 Fax: (480) 551-2704
http://www.azmdboard.org/ Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery
9535 East Doubletree Ranch Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85258-5539
(480) 657-7703 Fax (480) 657-7715
www.bomex.org/ Arkansas State Medical Board 2100 Riverfront Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72202-1793
(501) 296-1802 Fax:(501) 603-3555
http://www.armedicalboard.org/ Medical Board of California Central Complaint Unit
1426 Howe Ave., Suite 54
Sacramento, CA 95825-3236
(916) 263-2389 Fax:(916) 263-2387
(800) 633-2322
http://www.medbd.ca.gov/ Osteopathic Medical Board of California 2720 Gateway Oaks Dr., Suite 350
Sacramento, CA 95833-3500
(916) 263-3100 Fax:(916) 263-3117
www.dca.ca.gov/osteopathic Colorado Board of Medical Examiners
1560 Broadway, Suite 1300
Denver, CO 80202-5140
(303) 894-7690 Fax:(303) 894-7692
www.dora.state.co.us/medical Connecticut Medical Examining Board P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
(Street address 410 Capitol Ave., MS13PHO)
(860) 509-7648 Fax:(860) 509-7553
http://www.dph.state.ct.us/ Delaware Board of Medical Practice P.O. Box 1401
Dover, DE 19903
(Street address: 861 Silver Lake Blvd., Cannon Building, Suite 203, 19904)
(302) 739-4522 Fax:(302) 739-2711
http://dpr.delaware.gov/ District of Columbia Board of Medicine 825 North Capital Street, NE, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-9200 Fax: (202) 442-9431
http://www.dchealth.dc.gov/ Florida Board of Medicine Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN #C03
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3253
(850) 245-4131 Fax:(850) 488-9325
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/enforcement/enforce_howto.htm Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine 4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN C06
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1753
(850) 245-4161 Fax:(850) 487-9874
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/osteopath/os_faq.html Georgia Composite State Board of Medical Examiners 2 Peachtree Street, NW, 36th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 656-3913 Fax:(404) 656-9723
http://www.medicalboard.state.ga.us/ Hawaii Board of Medical Examiners
Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96813
(Street address: 1010 Richards St., 96813)
(808) 586-3000 Fax:(808) 586-2874
http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/pvl/boards/medical/ Idaho State Board of Medicine 1755 Westgate Drive, Suite 140,
Boise, ID 83704
(Street address: 83704)
(208) 327-7000 Fax:(208) 327-7005
http://www.bom.state.id.us/ Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
(Discipline) James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St., Suite 9-300
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 814-4500 Fax:(312) 814-1837
http://www.dpr.state.il.us/ Indiana Health Professions Bureau 402 W. Washington St., Room 041
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-2960 Fax:(317) 233-4236
www.ai.org/hpb Iowa State Board of Medical Examiners 400 Southwest Eighth Street, Suite C
Des Moines, IA 50309-4686
(515) 281-5171 Fax:(515) 242-5908
www.docboard.org/ia/ia_home.htm Kansas Board of Healing Arts 235 South Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66603-3068
(785) 296-7413 Fax:(785) 296-0852
http://www.ksbha.org/ Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure Hurstbourne Office Park310 Whittington Parkway, Suite 1
BLouisville, KY 40222-4916
(502) 429-8046 Fax:(502) 429-9923
http://kbml.ky.gov/grievances.htm Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 30250New Orleans, LA 70190-0250
(Street address: 630 Camp St., 70130)
(504) 568-6820 Fax:(504) 568-8893
http://www.lsbme.louisiana.gov/complaints.htm Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine 137 State House Station (U.S. mail)
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 287-3601 Fax:(207) 287-6590
www.docboard.org/me/me_home.htm Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure 142 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0142
(207) 287-2480 Fax:(207) 287-3015
http://www.maine.gov/osteo/ Maryland State Board of Physicians P.O. Box 2571
Baltimore, MD 21215-0095
(Street address: 4201 Patterson Ave., third floor, 21215)
(410) 764-4777 Fax:(410) 358-2252
(800) 492-6836
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine 560 Harrison Ave. Suite G-4
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 654-9800 Fax:(617) 451-9568
(800) 377-0550
http://www.massmedboard.org/ Michigan Board of Medicine P.O. Box 30670Lansing, MI 48909-8170
(Street address: 611 W. Ottawa St, 1st floor, 48933
(517) 373-6873 Fax:(517) 373-2179
www.michigan.gov/cis Michigan Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery P.O. Box 30670Lansing, MI 48909-8170
(Street address: 611 W. Ottawa St, 1st floor, 48933
(517) 373-6873 Fax:(517) 373-2179
www.michigan.gov/cis Minnesota Board of Medical Practice University Park Plaza
2829 University Ave. SE, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3246
(612) 617-2130 Fax:(612) 617-2166
Hearing impaired 1-800-627-3529
http://www.bmp.state.mn.us/ Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure 1867 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite 200B
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 987-3079 Fax:(601) 987-4159
http://www.msbml.state.ms.us/ Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts 3605 Missouri Blvd.Jefferson City, MO 65109
(Street address: 3605 Missouri Blvd., 65109)
(573) 751-0098 Fax:(573) 751-3166
http://www.pr.mo.gov/healingarts-complaint-forms.asp Montana Board of Medical Examiners P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2300 Fax: (406) 841-2363
http://mt.gov/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/complaints/complaint.asp Nebraska Board of Medicine and Surgery Health and Human Services
Regulation and Licensure Credentialing Division
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
(402) 471-2118 Fax:(402) 471-3577
www.hhs.state.ne.us/ Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners 1105 Terminal Way, Suite 301
Reno, NV 89502
(775) 688-2559 Fax:(775) 688-2321
http://www.medboard.nv.gov/ Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine 2860 E. Flamingo Rd., Suite G
Las Vegas, NV 89121
(702) 732-2147 Fax:(702) 732-2079
http://www.osteo.state.nv.us/ New Hampshire Board of Medicine 2 Industrial Park Drive, Suite 8
Concord, NH 03301-8520
(603) 271-1203 Fax:(603) 271-6702
Complaints (800) 780-475
www.state.nh.us/medicine New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners P.O. Box 183
Trenton, NJ 08625-0183
(609) 826-7100 Fax:(609) 826-7117
www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medical.htm#bme5 New Mexico State Board of Medical Examiners 491 Old Santa Fe Trail, Lamy Building, 2nd Floor
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 827-5022 Fax:(505) 827-7377
www.state.nm.us/nmbme New Mexico Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners 2055 S. Pacheco, Suite 400
Santa Fe, NM 87504
(505) 476-7120 Fax:(505) 476-7095
http://www.rld.state.nm.us/ New York State Board for Professional Medical Conduct (Discipline) Department of Health
Office of Professional Medical Conduct
433 River St., Suite 303Troy, NY 12180-2299
(518) 402-0855 Fax:(518) 402-0866
www.health.state.ny.us/ North Carolina Medical Board P.O. Box 20007
Raleigh, NC 27619
(919) 326-1100 Fax:(919) 326-1130
http://www.ncmedboard.org/ North Dakota State Board of Medical Examiners City Center Plaza
418 E. Broadway, Suite 12
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 328-6500 Fax:(701) 328-6505
http://www.ndbomex.com/ State Medical Board of Ohio 77 S. High St., 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6127
(614) 466-3934 Fax:(614) 728-5946
(800) 554-7717
www.state.oh.us/med/ Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision P.O. Box 18256
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 848-6841 Fax:(405) 848-8240
(800) 381-4519
http://www.osbmls.state.ok.us/ Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners 4848 N. Lincoln Blvd, Suite 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3321
(405) 528-8625 Fax:(405) 557-0653
http://www.docboard.org/ Oregon Board of Medical Examiners 1500 SW First Avenue, 620 Crown Plaza
Portland, OR 97201-5826
(503) 229-5770 Fax:(503) 229-6543
http://egov.oregon.gov/BME/ Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine P.O. Box 2649Harrisburg, PA 17105-7769
(717) 787-2381 Fax:(717) 787-7769
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/ Pennsylvania State Board of Osteopathic Medicine P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
(Street address: 124 Pine St., 17101)
(717) 783-4858 Fax:(717) 787-7769
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/ Board of Medical Examiners of Puerto Rico P.O. Box 13969
San Juan, PR 00908
(787) 782-8949 Fax:(787) 792-4436 Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline Department of Health
Cannon Building, Room 205
Three Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02908-5097
(401) 222-3855 Fax:(401) 222-2158
South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
110 Centerview Drive, Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29210-1289
(803) 896-4500 Fax:(803) 896-4515
www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/medical South Dakota State Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners 1323 S. Minnesota Ave.Sioux Falls, SD 57105
(605) 334-8343 Fax:(605) 336-0270
www.state.sd.us/dcr/medical Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners 425 5th Ave. North, 1st Floor, Cordell Hull Building
Nashville, TN 37247-1010
(615) 532-3202 Fax:(615) 253-4484
www.state.tn.us/health Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examiners 425 5th Ave. North, 1st Floor, Cordell Hull Building
Nashville, TN 37247-1010
(615) 532-3202 Fax:(615) 253-4484
(888) 310-4650
www.state.tn.us/health Texas State Board of Medical Examiners P.O. Box 2018Austin, TX 78768-2018
(512) 305-7010 Fax: (512) 305-7008
Disciplinary Hotline (800) 248-4062
Consumer Complaint Hotline (800) 201-9353
Utah Department of Commerce Div. of Occupational & Professional Licensure
Physicians Licensing Board
160 E 300 South, 84102, Heber M. Wells Building, 4th Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
(801) 530-6628 Fax:(801) 530-6511
http://www.dopl.utah.gov/ Utah Department of Commerce Div. of Occupational & Professional Licensure
Board of Osteopathic Medicine
160 E 300 South, 84102, Heber M. Wells Building, 4th Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
(801) 530-6628 Fax:(801) 530-6511
http://www.dopl.utah.gov/ Vermont Board of Medical Practice 108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402-0070
(802) 657-4220 Fax:(802) 657-4227
http://healthvermont.gov/ Vermont Board of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons Office of Professional Regulation
26 Terrace Street, Drawer 09
Montpelier, VT 05609-1106
(802) 828-2373 Fax:(802) 828-2465
http://vtprofessionals.org/
Virginia Board of Medicine
6603 W. Broad St., 5th Floor
Richmond, VA 23230-1717
(804) 662-9908 Fax:(804) 662-9517
www.dhp.state.va.us/
Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission
Department of Health
310 Isreal Road, SE
MS 47866
Tumwater, WA 98501
(360) 236-4788 Fax:(360) 586-4573
http://www.doh.wa.gov/
Washington State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery
Department of Health
P.O Box 47869
Olympia, WA 98504-7869
(360) 236-4945 Fax:(360) 236-2406
http://www.doh.wa.gov/
West Virginia Board of Medicine
101 Dee Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
(304) 558-2921 Fax:(304) 558-2084
www.wvbdosteo.org/
West Virginia Board of Osteopathy
334 Penco Rd.
Weirton, WV 26062
(304) 723-4638 Fax:(304) 723-2877
www.wvbdosteo.org/
Wisconsin Medical Examining Board
Department of Regulation and Licensing
1400 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-2112 Fax:(608) 261-7083
http://www.drl.state.wi.us/
Wyoming Board of Medicine
211 W. 19th St., Colony Bldg., 2nd floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002
(307) 778-7053 Fax:(307) 778-2069
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