HEALTH CARE PROVIDER COMPLAINTS - MBC

MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA


location_on
  • 2005 Evergreen Street
    Sacramento, Sacramento
language
local_phone
  • Phone 1
    Main
    916-263-2382
  • Toll-Free
    800-633-2322
  • Business Line
    916-263-2382

The Medical Board is responsible for investigating complaints and disciplining health professionals who violate the law.

The Medical Board of California (Board) investigates complaints involving:
  • Medical doctors (M.D.s)
  • Midwives 
  • Polysomnographic trainees, technicians, and technologists
  • Research psychoanalysts
In addition, Board staff reviews and investigates complaints about Doctors of Podiatric Medicine; however, any disciplinary action taken against the respective licensees is decided by the licensing Board/Bureau for that profession.

If an individual or organization appears to have violated the laws within the Board's jurisdiction, Board staff will investigate the allegations and charges may be filed.

Types of complaints reviewed by the Board
  • Quality of Care (Misdiagnosis, treatment/medication causing side effects, surgical complications, negligent care, etc.)
  • Office Practice (Failure to sign a death certificate, failure to provide records, misleading advertising)
  • Inappropriate Prescribing
  • Provider Impairment (Under the influence of drugs or alcohol, mental or physical impairment)
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Unlicensed Activity (Aiding and abetting unlicensed practice, unlicensed provider)
All applicable complaints are investigated by the Medical Board of CA. Complaints involving any other profession or entity are referred to the appropriate licensing board or agency. If the complaint is NOT within the Board's jurisdiction, Medical Board of CA staff will provide a referral to the appropriate agency or organization. Consumers are encouraged to file a complaint with the Board as soon as possible after the incident(s) in question occurred. By law, the Board cannot take disciplinary action on matters that took place more than seven years ago, except in cases involving sexual misconduct, care, and treatment provided to a minor, or intentional concealment of unprofessional conduct.

Identification
Some consumers do not wish to disclose their identity. If that is the case, the Board may be unable to pursue the complaint unless staff can document evidence of the allegations made. 

Ways to File a Complaint
  1. You can print the fill-in forms available in English and Spanish here: https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Consumers/Submit-By-Mail.aspx. Mail the completed form/s to the Board at Medical Board of California, Central Complaint Unit, 2005 Evergreen St., Suite 1200, Sacramento, CA 95815, or fax to 916-263 2435.
  2. You can file a complaint with the Board online through BreEze: https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Resources/BreEZe-Resources-Center/Complaints.aspx
Paper forms are the preferred method for filing a complaint. Online form submissions are not preferable because the online form cannot gather signatures so, the individual will receive a follow up after submitting the online form and go through additional steps in order to provide signatures/necessary documents which are not collected via the online form. A complainant may be asked to sign a medical records release form if the Board needs to obtain medical records from a doctor, hospital, or other sources to investigate a complaint. You must fill out a separate complaint form for each physician or other healthcare provider you wish to file a complaint against.

How to file a Complaint - https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Consumers/file-a-complaint. This page also includes who to contact for questions about the complaint process.

What Happens After I File a Complaint?
After submitting a complaint, the individual will receive either an email (1st contact method used) or paper mail to their address (2nd contact method used if 1st doesn't work) confirming that their complaint has been received. All applicable complaints are investigated by the Medical Board of CA.
Find more information here: https://www.mbc.ca.gov/Resources/brochures/Complaints.aspx

Contacts
Board's Consumer Information Unit for assistance:
800-633-2322
Consumers can contact the Board's Central Complaint Unit for assistance. Staff will assist by providing information about the issues within the Board's authority. Staff will also provide information about how to file a complaint with the Board, and the types of documents that may be needed.

Central Complaint Unit:
Toll-Free: 800-633-2322
Phone: 916-263-2382
Fax: 916-263-2435
Email: [email protected]
Complaint forms can be obtained by calling the Central Complaint Unit.

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