According to The Press of Atlantic City, the state of New Jersey ranks 40th in terms of disciplinary action taken after receiving complaints to the medical board. The Press reports that the board took no action for 93 percent of complaints last year.

“That board fielded 1,017 complaints against some of New Jersey’s approximately 33,000 licensed doctors. This resulted in 24 license revocations or voluntary surrenders and 45 temporary license suspensions, considered the most serious sanctions against physicians,” writes The Press of Atlantic City.

This forces patients to file lawsuits. Oftentimes it is because of a medical malpractice lawsuit that a doctor is required to take a refresher course. The board’s lack of disciplinary action also leaves it up to malpractice suits to affect physicians’ licenses.

There is also a general concern that even more complaints would be filed if doctors and hospitals were not so concerned with protecting each other. Doctors often observe each others’ mistakes but have no incentive to report the malpractice.

Medical malpractice is a serious offense. If you or someone you know has suffered as a result of malpractice, contact your New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Levinson Axelrod, P.A., by dialing 1-800-34-NJ-LAW.