# How do I go about finding a good doctor? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-go-about-finding-a-good-doctor/362993 "2006-07-03T00:44:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-go-about-finding-a-good-doctor/362993/1 "2006-07-03T00:44:11Z")
Or, if I am already seeing a doctor, how can I tell if he is good or not before I gain a reason to sue him for medical malpractice? This question goes for all types of doctors. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-go-about-finding-a-good-doctor/362993/2 "2006-07-03T04:11:25Z")
Talk to friends and family members. I’ve found the best dentist in the world that way. And I’ve also found a few doctors to avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-go-about-finding-a-good-doctor/362993/3 "2006-07-03T04:59:09Z")
Most states have a searchable database (well, I know the two states I have checked do). Google the state licencing board in your state. The ones I have checked show violations where the physician was disciplined. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-go-about-finding-a-good-doctor/362993/4 "2006-07-03T11:53:53Z")
When I last moved I asked my doctor how to find a new one. He said that I should ask the pharmacists who deal with them every day. He also suggested I ask some nurses - but didn’t tell me how I would find nurses to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-go-about-finding-a-good-doctor/362993/5 "2006-07-03T12:11:25Z")
Our HMO has an on-line list of who’s part of the plan. They also provide educational background info and what languages are spoken (huge deal if you ask me. I have had doctors where the language barrier was so pronounced that I might as well have been deaf). Also, friends and family. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-go-about-finding-a-good-doctor/362993/6 "2006-07-03T19:28:38Z")
I was invited to a party celebrating the graduation of a new class of RN’s (one of the new nurses was his girlfriend–later his wife). A room full of new nurses that have just finished a year of internship? I congratulated each new nurse and asked a favor. I was looking for a doctor. Would it be proper to ask the doctors you had the most respect for? Nobody was insulted. Each person was happy to give an opinion. I ended up making an appointment with the doctor that showed up on most lists.