Illinois Medical Malpractice Information Back Online after Legal Issues

The online database that allows patients to access Illinois medical malpractice information is officially back online after facing months of legal barriers.

The online Physician Profile website was taken down in 2010 after the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the new medical malpractice reforms were unconstitutional. However, in August, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a new law, the Patient Right to Know Act. The law allowed the online database to become available once again, while also giving doctors and chiropractors the opportunity to review their profiles and fix any issues or misstatements.

The database, which patients can access through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation's website, allows visitors to search the profiles of 46,000 medical professionals in Illinois and review their history of disciplinary action and medical malpractice. Illinois officials hope that the online information will help patients make more informed decisions about their medical care and perhaps prevent medical malpractice incidents before they happen.

At Keller & Keller LLP, we believe that the more information a patient or potential patient has about their physician or chiropractor, the better. We encourage everyone to visit the website and learn more about the doctors in their lives and in their area. And remember: if you believe that you have been harmed by a doctor's mistake or hospital error, speak with an Illinois medical malpractice attorney today about your case.