# Online reviews of doctors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 25, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156 "2008-08-25T01:07:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/1 "2008-08-25T01:07:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/2 "2008-08-25T01:32:16Z")
Typing the phrase “[Reviews of Doctors](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=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](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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/3 "2008-08-25T01:45:20Z")
> **[Healthgrades | Find a Doctor - Doctor Reviews - Online Doctor Appointments](https://www.healthgrades.com/)** > > Healthgrades is the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Not free, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/4 "2008-08-25T03:40:54Z")
In addition to Healthgrades, you might want to look at [Castle Connolly](http://www.castleconnolly.com/). Also not free. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/5 "2008-08-25T04:02:53Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/6 "2008-08-25T15:05:05Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] I’m going to be setting up a surgical appointment with a doctor I have virtually no information about. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/7 "2008-08-25T15:13:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/8 "2008-08-25T15:14:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-reviews-of-doctors/461156/9 "2008-08-25T15:29:40Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] 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. [/QUOTE] 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.