This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah regulators vowed Wednesday to make disciplinary orders against licensed physicians — and other professionals — publicly available on a searchable website.
And legislation is pending to publish yet more background information on doctors, possibly including their credentials, employment track records and malpractice claims.
"I guess I always assumed this was available somewhere," said state Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield. He said he became aware that such information isn't disclosed while inquiring about the status of a Utah abortion doctor whose license was suspended 10 months ago in Maryland for allegedly botching an abortion.
Nicola Riley has agreed to stop performing abortions in Utah but continues to practice medicine under a Feb. 23 agreement with Utah's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). The action came six months after the Maryland Board of Physicians suspended her license, saying she posed "a threat to patients."
The Maryland board also accused Riley of falsifying information on her license application and making misrepresentations on her application to get into the University of Utah medical school.
But none of this information is shared with consumers on DOPL's website.
"Abortion isn't the issue," Ray said. "It's that her license was revoked [elsewhere] and she still has a license here," and that she allegedly lied on her application, he said.
Under Utah law, medical professionals can be sanctioned for "moral turpitude." Ray said: "I think that would apply in this case, assuming [Riley] is adjudicated and found guilty of what's alleged."
He said he'll draft a bill for committee review this summer after exploring the practices of other states.
DOPL Director Mark Steinagel gave lawmakers a brief summary Wednesday of the transparency policies in neighboring Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Wyoming.
All those states, including Utah, allow consumers to verify professional licenses and note whether there's been some disciplinary action.
But in Utah, no details on the nature of a person's punishable violations are given. And licensing restrictions aren't disclosed; a search under Riley's name shows no disciplinary actions.
Steinagel promised to jump-start a year-old plan to post copies of disciplinary orders, as is done in all but two states, Wyoming and Montana. Only California, Colorado and Idaho publish full physician profiles with background on their training and board certifications, employment terminations, hospital affiliations and malpractice claims, Steinagel said.
Know before you go
Utah's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing keeps records on medical professionals and others who have run afoul of regulations, but they aren't easily searchable. The Salt Lake Tribune has a database where consumers can search for disciplinary records by profession, a professional's name and their place of work. > utahsright.com