Medical Malpractice Complaints In Maine On The Rise
Complaints to the Maine state medical board are on the rise. In the last ten years, the board has seen an increase in complaints of nearly 50 percent with the current pace expected to reach a record high in 2010. In 2009, 224 formal medical complaints were made to the state board.
Patient complaints of physician negligence have grown steadily recently partly due to the relative ease of filing a complaint. Patients can now submit complaints online, over the phone or via mail. Online, patients can easily research information about physicians, disciplines, and licenses. According to the Federation of State Medical Boards, the rate of complaints has increased on average by double digits nationally.
Common complaints to the medical board include drug abuse, incompetence, and doctors developing sexual relationships patients. But as the number of formal complaints rises, the number of people reviewing the complaints has remained the same.
The Maine state medical board is made up of six physicians, three citizens, and a support staff of nine. Each complaint registered receives full board review, and in extreme cases can result in a revoked license, fine, and required substance abuse treatment. Often times, the complaint is passed on to the accused physician so he or she can be informed of their accused wrongdoing.
Some say that the increase in complaints is due partly to the difficulty of finding a lawyer who will handle a medical malpractice case. On occasion, the investment of time and money in a malpractice case outweighs the award.
At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we work closely with several of the top medical malpractice attorneys in Maine. While doctors work to improve the overall well-being of mankind, they too are human and are capable of making mistakes. If you suspect you’ve been the victim of a medical malpractice, call today for a free and confidential consultation, you may be entitled to compensation.
With a statewide practice and five convenient offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein stands ready to help you get the justice you deserve.
The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein – Maine Lawyers Working For Maine People
