States of Disgrace: A Flawed System Fails to Inform the Public

Yearlong investigation identifies 500 doctors who elude consequences

Every physician has heard the horror stories.

Stories about doctors who sexually harass patients, bungle surgeries, or ignore complications in patients who then die. And what's more, they can get away with it by taking advantage of lags and gaps in the medical licensing system. By hopping state lines, or having a fistful of licenses issued by different states, they can continue to practice wherever the grass is greenest.