A database of reports of Medical Malpractice in New York and physician discipline records was ordered removed from the web by the Obama administration.  Three different journalism organizations are protesting the decision.   The portion of public use files were deleted from the database.  These files from the National Practitioner Data Bank, with physician names and addresses deleted, had been used for years by researchers and reporters. The information helped spot trends in doctor oversight, disciplinary actions and medical malpractice awards, according to the New York Times.

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"Reporters across the country have used the public use file to write stories that have exposed serious lapses in the oversight of doctors that have put patients at risk," Charles Ornstein, president of the Association of Health Care Journalists.

Our Manhattan Medical Malpractice attorneys understand how important this type of information is.  The medical industry reports 100,000 people a year die from preventable medical error -- three times more than are killed in traffic accidents. The public has a right to know the risks so they are better able to make informed decisions about their medical care. 

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, the data has already been removed from the website.  The agency also wrote a rebuttal letter to an investigative reporter; the letter said he could be sued for $11,000, plus additional fines for violating a confidentiality provision of federal law. Journalists and public health advocates have been outraged.

The agency is currently reviewing the public use file on its database and says that it may be re-released to the public at a later date.  The aim of the review is to help ensure confidentiality.

A spokesman for the agency says that the company is doing everything that is can do get public files up and running again.  He said they just want to make sure that reporters, researchers and the public have access to information that is "legally" available.  Recent reports indicate that these individuals were obtaining private information through the database.

The agency will be reviewing comments, concerns and complaints that have been made by journalist organization as they consider the changes for the website.

Review of the information frequently shines a light on malpractice issues and on doctors, hospitals and practitioners who have a negative malpractice record.