Washington State’s 2019 law designed to promptly alert the public when physicians face misconduct allegations is failing, with disclosures often taking months, according to a ProPublica investigation published Monday.
The law mandates the state’s Medical Quality Assurance Commission notify the public within 10 days of a credible accusation. But ProPublica found the commission frequently exceeds that window, sometimes by months, leaving patients in the dark about potential risks from their doctors.
ProPublica’s analysis identified numerous cases where notices were delayed, including one where a surgeon accused of operating while impaired was publicly flagged only after a patient complained. The delays undermine the law’s intent to provide timely transparency.
The commission acknowledged backlogs and processing challenges but said it is working to improve compliance. Critics argue the slow pace erodes trust and endangers patients who could have made informed choices if warnings were issued faster.
Consumer advocates call for stricter oversight or penalties for noncompliance, while the commission defends its process as methodical and fair to accused physicians, balancing public safety with due process.