COLUMBIA--A national consumer group says South
Carolina is doing worse at disciplining its doctors, but state regulators say
the state has tough licensing requirements that weed out bad seeds early on.
Public Citizen ranks the state 43rd among the 50 states in the rate of
doctors disciplined. In 1987, South Carolina was ninth, said Dr. Sidney Wolfe,
who co-founded the consumer advocacy group with Ralph Nader.
South Carolina sanctions fewer doctors than other states, according to the
study released in April by the group. The state sanctioned an average of 2.18
doctors per 1,000 from 2002 to 2004. That stands in sharp contrast to the 10 per
1,000 for Wyoming, the top-ranked state on the list.
The study could fuel those pushing to change disciplinary procedures of the
state Board of Medical Examiners. Legislation in the General Assembly, which
adjourns June 2, would force the board to let the public know about formal
complaints against doctors.
The push for more open procedures comes after two high-profile cases
involving Dr. James Shortt of West Columbia and Dr. James Johnston of Hilton
Head Island.
Johnston has been barred from practice until he completes an alcohol abuse
treatment program. Shortt has been disciplined by the board after a patient died
from the hydrogen peroxide infusion treatments he ordered. Shortt also is being
investigated by a federal grand jury for allegations of prescribing steroids to
athletes.
The Public Citizen study "shows our board is not doing a top-notch job or
even a mediocre job in disciplining those doctors who are problems," said Sen.
Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.
Medical board members say there is no proven correlation between the number
of sanctions against doctors and patient care.
"Perhaps those states with fewer discipline actions are more careful upfront
in the licensing process and do a better job of keeping out problem physicians,"
according to a statement released by the board.
The statement also made the claim that the study is based on arbitrary data
and does not make allowances for differences in state practices.
