Medical Complaints: King County

King County Medical Society:

Grievance Committee

Intended to preserve positive relationships between member physicians and patients as well as attempting to avoid more adversarial methods of dispute resolution, this Committee mediates disputes or misunderstandings which may arise regarding fees and medical service, including necessity or frequency of therapeutic treatment and procedures. It also considers such other matters as may be referred by the Board of Trustees and upon written request, will investigate all matters of dispute, controversy, or grievance arising between two or more members of the Society and others. The KCMS Grievance Committee is not a legal body and does not award damages however, at its option; cases may be referred to the Board to Trustees for possible investigation by the state Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

Medical Practice and Ethics Committee

Also created to keep the handling of disputes at an appropriate level, the mandate of this Committee is to serve as an investigative body to determine whether matters brought to the attention of the Committee are at variance with the contemporary standards of medical practice and medical ethics.  In weighing each case, the Committee will consider guidelines defined in the By-Laws of the Medical Society, the Washington State Medical Association, and the American Medical Association, and those that are deemed desirable and accepted as customary in our community.  The Committee has the obligation to act in the best interest of the public, the Society, and the accused member.  It also has the authority to recommend that the Board of Trustees consider whether a given dispute warrants consideration by the Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

Medical Legal Committee

This Committee shall promote and enforce provisions of the inter-professional code for physicians and attorneys.  It shall hear and suggest solutions for disputes arising between respective members of the two professions, including violations of the code.  The Committee maintains a Liability Panel which reviews cases of alleged malpractice, primarily to screen out those where the evidence is too weak to support any kind of case.  The Committee shall supervise the proceedings of the Professional Liability Panel and consider revisions of its operative procedures.  Through the Committee, the Medical Society guarantees to the plaintiff that an impartial expert witness from the Society’s Medical Testimony Panel will be available.

Contact Information:

King County Medical Society
200 Broadway
Seattle, Washington 98122
Phone: 206-621-9396
Fax: 206-621-9455

Source:

http://www.kcmsociety.org/Public/AboutUs/Committees/index.cfm
Accessed on: March 1, 2007