Physician profiling leaves malpractce data open to misinterpretation

Consumerism took an important step forward in 1996 when Massachusetts became the first state to enact a physician profiling law. Information on a physician9s education, training, specialty board certification, honors/awards, professional publications, disciplinary actions and malpractice data became available to the public by calling a toll-free number and later by accessing the Internet. Physicians for the most part express support for the disclosure of general profiles, including disciplinary actions by state licensing boards. However, data on closed malpractice claims payments are another matter.