HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cardarelli, R. Articles by Licciardone, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cardarelli, R. Articles by Licciardone, J. C.

From the Departments of Family Medicine (Cardarelli) and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (Licciardone) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth—Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Address correspondence to: Roberto Cardarelli, DO, MPH, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth—Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Division of Education and Research, 855 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2553. E-mail: rcardare{at}hsc.unt.edu

Context: There has been an increase in research evaluating factors associated with disciplinary action of physicians by state medical boards. However, factors related to the severity of disciplinary action are lacking. By investigating these factors while controlling for the type of violation, the authors sought to determine whether physician characteristics influenced the process of disciplinary action by state medical boards.

Methods: Physicians disciplined by the Texas Medical Board between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 1998, were included in this case-controlled study (N=1129). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors associated with license revocation, the most severe disciplinary action, compared with all other forms of disciplinary action combined.

Results: Anesthesiologists (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.05–5.74), general practitioners (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.01–3.19), and psychiatrists (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.41–5.13), as well as those with multiple disciplinary actions (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.29–2.83) were most susceptible to license revocation. The more years a disciplined physician was in practice, the greater risk he or she had of license revocation (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04–1.07).

Conclusions: Factors associated with a greater likelihood of license revocation for physicians are: primary medical specialty, number of years in practice, and a history of multiple disciplinary actions.