A committee of the Federation of State Medical Boards recommends that physicians applying for re-licensure show additional self-assessment and learning.

As readers might guess I am a believer in the need for physicians to engage in life-long learning for the benefit of their patients. The problem is that I don’t think that state medical boards can effectively promote and enforce such requirements. I believe that the consistently worst physicians will meet the requirements easily. They will simply do as they always have- engage in bogus efforts or lie to the state medical board. A good case can be made that quality physicians will have additional obligations without perceptible improvements in patient care.

It is essentially a case of unequal information. Bad physicians would be out of business if every patient had access to quality databases that were properly maintained. A free market requires ready access to information. Instead of legislating more educational requirements states should permit you, the readers, access to reliable quality data and force hospitals to collect and report such data in an aggressive fashion. Then we can have a free market.

You deserve safe health care. Take an active role and ask questions. demand answers.