Doctoring The Hectored Doctors By Proctor--

[low-pitched humming] I recently didn't feel very well, so I thought I'd turn on medbot, and get a checkup, right? That didn't go well. [rolls three eyes, looks at long scratch on a blue tentacle] Apparently, Shelob will be reprogramming medbot first thing when back online.

My attempt at researching medical accidents didn't go well without Shelob's skillset until I figured out the term 'malpractice.' Then I was somewhat horrified at the results. Apparently medical education is so expensive that insurance companies, lawyers, judges, etc. can't afford to learn the difference between accidental and deliberate medical wrongdoing.

This obviously could cause as many problems for the profession as not having enough peers for a jury trial. The solution to the problem? More simple than easy.

If my reading is correct, there is already a review board of physicians that review cases. There is also occasionally cooperation between this process and law enforcement. What is missing is the patient side.

Before ruling on cases of any kind (possibly before being allowed to serve on such a board) each physician should be required to listen to testimony from two patients or their heirs per every significant medical procedure. Testimony specifically geared to detail how good and how bad the results of successes and failures of these procedures can possibly be. That testimony would obviously have to be vetted and volunteered for and archived for continuous reuse. Then quick refreshers could be called for, these boards could rule on accidental or deliberate, and then law enforcement would get a much needed leg up. Like knowing how hard it is NOT to screw up from a professional board.

In these trying economic times, surely there are thousands of doctors temporarily or permanently unable to continue working or past their retirement age for surgery, or otherwise somehow wonderful choices to continue consulting. This sort of work could keep them employed for quite some time, and maybe provide some more insight on how to improve medical education, administration, practice, etc.

So why isn't there a board like this of twenty doctors for every half-million people in the U. S.?
Let me know? [disconnect]