State of Nevada

Board of Medical Examiners
Complaint Investigation Division

WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AN 
ALLOPATHIC MEDICAL DOCTOR (M.D.), 
A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT (P.A.) OR 
A PRACTITIONER OF RESPIRATORY CARE . . .


WHAT IS THE BOARD

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners is the state governmental agency which licenses and disciplines medical doctors (M.D.s), physician assistants (P.A.-C), and practitioners of respiratory care. It is comprised of nine members: six are physicians actively practicing in Nevada, and three are public members, and all are appointed by the Governor.


I KNOW WHAT A LICENSE IS, BUT WHAT DOES "DISCIPLINE" MEAN
WITH REGARD TO DOCTORS, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND
PRACTITIONERS OF RESPIRATORY CARE?

If a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care breaks the law under the Nevada Medical Practice Act (chapter 630 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Administrative Code), the board can investigate and file charges against him or her. If the charges are proven, the board can revoke the license of the doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care, put them on probation, or impose other sanctions against them that are authorized by the Nevada Medical Practice Act.


WHAT KINDS OF THINGS CAN A DOCTOR, PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT OR PRACTITIONER OF RESPIRATORY
CARE BE DISCIPLINED FOR?

There are three major categories, and several less serious ones:

Malpractice:

        As an example, if a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care fails to use a well-known and effective treatment, to the patient’s detriment, that may be malpractice.

        Sometimes, a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care does things that are not extremely careless, but are not appropriate for the condition of the patient. For example, if several patients of a plastic surgeon end up with unusual infections following facelifts, are hospitalized, and are left with scars, that may be malpractice.

Professional Incompetence:

        If a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care does things which he or she is not adequately trained to do, or does not maintain the skills needed to practice safely and effectively, he or she may be professionally incompetent. An example is a doctor who continues to do a surgical procedure that others in his or her field stopped doing years ago because it was found to be unnecessarily dangerous, or, a general practitioner does a plastic surgery, for which he or she is not adequately trained.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER CAUSES FOR PHYSICIAN, PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT OR PRACTITIONER OF RESPIRATORY CARE DISCIPLINE?

*  Problems with drugs or alcohol, or emotional stability.
*  Sexual misconduct with patients.
*  Abandonment of a patient.
*  Indiscriminate prescribing and other drug law violations, such as prescribing to
   a known addict, diverting drugs to illegal street sale, or prescribing without
   medical reason.
*  Knowingly allowing an unlicensed person to practice medicine.
*  Conviction of a serious crime, or crime involving moral turpitude, or crime
    involving the practice of medicine.
*  Billing for services not rendered.

WHAT THE BOARD DOES NOT DO

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners does not regulate:

                        nurses                                                                             pharmacists

                                  optometrists                                                                   chiropractors

                        oriental medicine occupations                                     osteopaths

                        homeopaths                                                                   dentists

                        marriage counselors                                                     social workers

                                  laboratory technicians                                                   veterinarians

                        family counselors                                                           podiatrists

                        physical therapists                                                         x-ray technicians

                        emergency medical technicians                                  psychologists

                        speech pathologists                                                      hospitals

                                  medical insurance companies                                     clinics

                        laboratories                                                                    nursing homes

                        doctor’s front office (clerical) staff

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners regulates only medical doctors (M.D.s), physician assistants (P.A.-Cs) and practitioners of respiratory care. See the governmental offices listing in the phone book for other regulatory boards or call Nevada State Library Research Assistance at 775/684-3360, or toll-free from within the state of Nevada at 800/922-2880.

The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners has no legal authority over what a doctor charges (unless it involves fraud), and cannot help with getting fees reduced or refunded. Sometimes the Office of the Governor Consumer Health Assistance Program (775/687-3370 in Carson City or 888/333-1597 toll-free from within the state of Nevada) can help with fee problems.


WHAT CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT A DOCTOR, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
OR PRACTITIONER OF RESPIRATORY CARE?

We can tell you if a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care is licensed, or if he or she has been formally disciplined, and provide you with his or her educational background and malpractice history. For this information, call the office of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners at 775/688-2559 in Reno or 888/890-8210 toll-free from within the state of Nevada and then press "0" (zero). By law, we cannot reveal whether a complaint has been made against a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care unless the complaint has resulted in formal charges.

We cannot recommend a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care, or tell you 
who is available in your community. You may want to call your county’s medical society or a 
local hospital for referrals. Also, your insurance plan may list which doctors in your community 
are covered by your insurance.


DOES A DOCTOR HAVE TO RELEASE
MEDICAL RECORDS TO A PATIENT?

Yes. A doctor does have to make a patient’s records available to the patient or to the patient’s representative with the patient’s written authorization. The doctor may charge up to 60 cents per page for photocopies of the records, and a reasonable fee for copies of x-rays and other health care records produced by similar processes.


WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST A
DOCTOR, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OR
PRACTITIONER OF RESPIRATORY CARE?

        Your complaint must be in written form, and we will give you written confirmation of receipt of your complaint. As soon as we can, we will tell you what we’ve done about it. However, there is a formal procedure which must be completed:

First, we determine if the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners has jurisdiction in the matter. If so, the board’s Investigative Committee will assign an investigator to get the facts. If we confirm a violation of the Nevada Medical Practice Act, the board may file charges, and a doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care will be given a public hearing. The charges filed by the board, and the formal decision of the board after the hearing, are public record. Copies are available upon request.

If the charges are proven, the board may suspend or revoke the license or place the doctor, physician assistant or practitioner of respiratory care on probation. The board can also order psychiatric treatment, additional education, passage of a competency examination or any other discipline provided by the Nevada Medical Practice Act.

If the problem is drugs or alcohol, the board can require the doctor, physician assistant or 
practitioner of respiratory care to participate in treatment and keep him or her out of 
practice until the problem is under control.


HOW CAN I FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE BOARD?

Just call the office of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners in Reno at 
775/688-2559 or 888-890-8210 toll-free from within the state of Nevada, and 
then press "1" to reach the investigation department.  You may also 
go back to the table of contents on the main page of this website and 
click on "TO FILE A COMPLAINT."


OTHER STATE REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine                 702/732-2147

Nevada State Board of Nursing                                          702/486-5800
                                                                                            or 775/688-2620
                                                                                    
Nevada State Board of Pharmacy                                      775/850-1440

Nevada State Board of Optometry                                      775/883-8367

Nevada State Board of Chiropractic Examiners               775/688-1919

Nevada State Board of Oriental Medicine                         702/486-7280

Nevada State Board of Homeopathic Medicine               702/451-3332

Nevada State Board of Dental Examiners                         702/486-7044

Nevada State Board of Marriage & Family Therapists     702/486-7388

Nevada State Board for Social Work Examiners              775/688-2555

Nevada State Board of Veterinary Medicine                     775/688-1788

Nevada State Board of Podiatry                                         702/873-8955 

Nevada State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners       702/876-5535

Nevada State Board of Psychological Examiners             775/688-1268

State Regulatory Agency for Hospitals, Nursing 
Homes and Laboratories                                                      775/687-4475

State Regulatory Agency for Emergency Medical 
Technicians and Ambulance Attendants                             775/687-3065

State Regulatory Agency for Audiology and 
Speech Pathologists                                                             775/857-3550

                To find out about state agencies not listed, call:

        Nevada State Library Research Assistance                         775/684-3360
                                 or toll-free from within the state of Nevada  800/922-2880

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