I’m going to be setting up a surgical appointment with a doctor I have virtually no information about. Any recommendations for places where I can look up doctors and review their background? If this doctor has killed a dozen patients, I’d like to know beforehand.
Typing the phrase “Reviews of Doctors” in Google brought up an enormous number of hits. This is the first hit that advertises as free. http://www.ratemds.com
I have used them a time or two when I had an appointment with a new doctor - I’m still alive. 
Not free, though.
In addition to Healthgrades, you might want to look at Castle Connolly. Also not free.
My understanding of these paid services is that most of them are just repackaging information that’s available on free public databases. I was hoping somebody might know a ready way to get access to that data itself.
When I had to have my gallbladder removed, I asked my PCP who he would use if he had to have *his * gallbladder removed. He laughed and made a recommendation, saying that the guys bed side manner was crap, but his technical skills were excellent. Worked for me.
Do you have any friends who are lawyers? You might ask them if there is a way to check to see how many malpractice suits he has. This is not a definitive guide - some people will sue for anything - but it isn’t bad info to have.
Coincidentally, I’m having my gall bladder removed.
I had a recommendation from the doctor who diagnosed me for a surgeon, who seemed to be good. But he wasn’t covered by my insurance plan and I would have been paying 20% of the bill out of pocket.
I know another surgeon who’s got a very good reputation and was covered by my insurance. But his good reputation worked against me - he’s very difficult to get booked with. So I ended up going with one of the partners in his practice. And that’s who I want to check out now.
State medical associations keep records of such things. So will the state licensing agency.
If your state doesn’t require physicians to carry malpractice insurance- many don’t- you’ll probably want to check for that.