How to Check Up on Your Doctor

Patients can find out by telephone or by computer whether their doctors are licensed. Here’s how:

By Telephone

Call the Medical Board of California consumer information unit at (916) 263-2382. Tape-recorded instructions in English and Spanish; personnel fluent in both languages can assist. This number also can be called to report a complaint about a doctor.

By Computer

Visit the medical board’s Web site at https://www.medbd.ca.gov. Click on the line “check on doctor,” then type doctor’s name or license number and click on the search button.

In addition to checking on the license, consumers can find whether:

* a physician has been convicted of any felonies

* there have been any medical board disciplinary actions

* there have been any arbitration awards or civil lawsuit judgments

Also available

* What medical school the doctor attended

* When a medical license was issued and due to expire