Key Takeaways
1. The Arizona Medical Board and the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery protect the public by setting educational and training standards for licensure and regulating the conduct of licensees. The Boards also provide continuing medical education and offer physician health programs.
2. Patients and their family members, other physicians, and other health care professionals may file complaints with the physician's licensing board. Complaints are usually resolved without formal action. Some complaints trigger investigations. Other investigation triggers include the physician's physical or mental health, medical professional liability claims, medical board actions in other states, and arrests and prosecutions.
3. Most physicians are emotionally or experientially unprepared to respond to complaints and investigations and will benefit from the assistance of legal counsel.