As a licensee of the State Medical Board of Ohio, you have a statutory and ethical duty to report misconduct. You are obligated to report violations of law, rule and code of ethics standards to the Medical Board. Examples of misconduct include, but are not limited to, sexual misconduct, impairment, practice below the minimal standards of care, and improper prescribing of controlled substances. If you suspect or have observed inappropriate behavior by a health care professional or colleague, you should file a complaint with the State Medical Board. If you believe a crime has been committed, you should also contact your local law enforcement. Knowing a colleague is violating regulations and not reporting to the Medical Board not only puts patients at risk but also puts your license to practice in jeopardy.

Licensees should not assume that by informing their supervisor their duty to report is fulfilled. Failure to report a colleague’s misconduct can result in fines of up to $20,000 and disciplinary action. Ohio law is clear when a licensee needs to report information directly to the Medical Board.

You can file a complaint directly with the Medical Board 24/7 through the confidential complaint hotline at 1-833-333-SMBO (7626) or online at med.ohio.gov. Provisions in the Ohio Revised Code make all complaints received by the board confidential.

Effective May 31, 2021, physicians (MDs, DOs and DPMs) are required to complete one hour of Continuing Medical Education (CME) on the topic of a licensee’s duty to report misconduct, with enforcement to commence with renewal or reinstatement applications submitted on or after July 1, 2021.

The board has created a one-hour course designed to educate physicians (MDs, DOs and DPMs) on the duty to report to the State Medical Board of Ohio. It features interviews from members of the board, staff leadership, a board investigator, and other state medical boards from around the country. The video is divided into three distinct sections: understanding your duty to report, examples of physician misconduct, and how to report. At the end of each section, you will have the opportunity to evaluate what you learned through a review of questions and answers. A certificate of completion will be provided. You will need to print or save the certificate for your records. As with all CME, records of completion should be kept in accordance with rule 4731-10-08.