The National Practitioner Data Bank – Module 1.0

This module discusses the operation of The National Practitioner Data Bank and analyses the situations in which a medical malpractice lawsuit is reported to the Data Bank. It also evaluates several ways in which a Data Bank entry can be sidestepped.

Course Sample

Below is a sample Case Study from this module.

Being Sued

Fact Pattern

Dr. A is sued for medical malpractice in a case involving post-operative complications. His malpractice insurance company hires an attorney and they begin defending the case. Unfortunately, within a few weeks, some of the details of the case appear in the local newspapers and become widely known in the community.

Issue

At what point in the course of a medical malpractice lawsuit does an entry appear against the physician in the Data Bank?

Rule

A medical malpractice lawsuit is not reported to the Data Bank until a payment (if any) is made on behalf of a physician or other practitioner. If a payment is not made, the Data Bank is never notified and no entry is ever generated.

Analysis

Although Dr. A has been sued, allegations have been made, and the details made known in the lay press, these events are not reportable to the Data Bank. If one were to query the Data Bank at this juncture, no entry would be found with respect to this matter.

Similarly, if the case is dropped, dismissed, or Dr. A wins the case at trial, no entry is made in the Data Bank. The Data Bank does not track mere allegations or cases in which the defendant physician prevails, for these situations have little association with substandard physician performance.

Conclusion

The Data Bank is not notified and no entry is generated until money changes hands.

Physician Comments

Below are what other physicians have said about this module.

• Very interesting-a secret society like the Star Chamber in English history – D. Knapp
• Informative – M. Watterson
• A good learning module. – K. Razzag