Will the Board investigate all of my concerns? The Board only investigates concerns that involve a violation of Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), Chapter 677 (Medical Practice Act). Some examples include inappropriate care, unprofessional conduct, inappropriate prescribing, sexual misconduct, and personal substance abuse. Usually, the Board will not investigate complaints about your bill or concerns about office staff conduct or the medical provider's attitude. These matters are often not violations of state law.
Will the person I complained about know my identity? Your name is confidential, and the Board does its best to protect your identity. In some cases, the person under investigation may think they know who made the complaint because of the circumstances, but the Board will not release that information.
How long will the investigation take? The time varies greatly. Some investigations close in a few months, while others may take over a year. Investigations that are complex, involve many patients or witnesses, or require interviews or outside medical opinions take longer. The Board tries to complete investigations quickly while still collecting all of the facts.
Will the investigator need more information from me? Probably not, but if the investigator needs more information from you, they will contact you. If you have additional information you would like to share, you may send it in writing. If your phone number or address changes, please notify the investigator.
What kind of information will the investigator gather? The investigator gathers information such as medical records and witness statements. The investigator may also interview the person under investigation and other health care providers.
Can I get a copy of the investigation or use the information gathered in a malpractice lawsuit? No. By law, investigations are confidential, and the Board cannot share the information. Additionally, the information cannot be used in a malpractice lawsuit.
What are the possible outcomes? Investigations close in different ways depending on what violations are found. Some outcomes include:
- Closed with no formal action: there was not enough evidence of a violation.
- Closed with no formal action and a Letter of Concern: there was not enough evidence of a violation, but the Board is concerned about some aspect of the care or conduct and sent a confidential letter addressing those concerns.
- Corrective Action Agreement: an agreement between the Board and the medical provider where the provider agrees to take certain actions or steps, such as educational classes.
- Stipulated Order: a disciplinary action by the Board where the provider must follow certain terms or conditions, which may include suspensions, fines, reprimands, and educational classes.
- Hearing with disciplinary action: disciplinary action may include license suspension or revocation, fines, reprimands, and education.
How will I find out the outcome of the investigation? During the investigation, you may receive occasional status updates. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Board will send you a letter explaining how the case was resolved. If there are any public documents, such as a Corrective Action Agreement or a Stipulated Order, those will be sent to you as well. Letters of Concern or confidential and will not be provided.
Where can I find support for sexual trauma? The Oregon Medical Board takes sexual misconduct complaints very seriously. If you have filed a sexual misconduct complaint with the Board and would like additional resources, please visit the Oregon Attorney General's Sexual Assault Task Force webpage. There, you will find contact information for nonprofit organizations in your area. Please note that the Sexual Assault Task Force does not operate a shelter or crisis hotline.