Conference quark::mennotes

239.0. "Access to Info on Doctors" by RANGER::GOBLE () Wed Aug 28 1996 10:25

New Mass. Law Allows Patients to
Check Up on Doctor's Records.

The Boston Globe
August 10, 1996

By ALison Bass and Doris Sue Wong


    Gov. William F. Weld yesterday signed into law
a bill that will give consumers easy access to a
broad range of information on every Massachusetts
doctor, including data on malpractice awards,
disciplinary actions, lawsuit settlements and
convictions for felonies or serious misdemeanors.

    The physician profile bill, which is the first
of its kind in the nation, will allow consumers to
call a state-funded 800 number and access information
on specific doctors by phone and fax, beginning
Sept. 20.

    The information also will be available on CD-ROM
and through the Internet next May.

    "Choosing a doctor is one of the most personal
and important decisions a person can make, yet up
until today, consumers have had little information
on which to base their decision," said Weld at the
bill-signing ceremony at Massachusetts General
Hospital.

    The bill, passed last week by the Legislature,
culminates a 10-year effort by consumer groups to
achieve fuller disclosure of disciplinary actions
taken against doctors.

    While some physicians remain leery of the broad
scope of the program, The Massachusetts Medical
Society supported the bill and has worked closely
with the medical board to develop the profiles.

    "It wasn't easy for us to file this legislation,"
said Joseph M. Heyman, medical society president.
"Anybody who lives here knows anybody can be sued.
But we also know people were eager to have this
legislation."

    The profiles will also include information on
doctors' educaton, training and professional affil-
iations, published articles and books and honors and
awards.