Ordering Public Documents
If enforcement or disciplinary action has been taken against a physician's license, the Board's public documents related to the action are available to the public. These documents may include:
- Accusation: the document stating the charges the Board has filed against a physician.
- Decision: the document describing the legal findings of the charges in an Accusation and identifying the penalties imposed on the physician.
- Temporary Restraining Order or Interim Suspension Order: issued by either a Superior Court judge or administrative law judge to suspend or limit a physician's practice immediately.
- Public Letter of Reprimand: a lesser form of discipline that can be negotiated for minor violations.
- Citation and Fine: an alternative method by which the Board can impose a sanction and take action against a physician for a technical violation of the law. (Note: Citations are not considered disciplinary action.)
The Board does not release the following:
- Court documents: documents related to medical malpractice settlements, judgments or arbitration awards rendered against a physician. Documents related to civil suits or medical malpractice cases are available to the public through the court in which the case was filed.
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/trial/
- Criminal conviction documents: documents relating to criminal charges are available to the public through the court in which the case was filed.
- Hospital disciplinary action: documents relating to hospital disciplinary action are not available to the public.
- Disciplinary actions taken against the physician by another state or jurisdiction: these documents may be available through the state/jurisdiction taking the action.
How to Request a Public Document
The Medical Board maintains public documents on its Web site. Please note that this search system is still under construction and not all documents are available at this time. Please click here to search the Medical Board's Web site for available documents. To obtain a copy of the documents not available on this site, follow the procedures below.
Complete the Request for Public Documents form to request documents by mail or fax. The Medical Board charges a nominal fee for providing public documents. The charges are:
- Basic Charge (for each document up to 8 pages) - $2
- Each additional page over 8 pages - .25 per page
An additional charge of $2 per document is assessed if certified documents are requested.
Medical Board staff will advise you of the costs associated with your request. Fax the completed form to (916) 263-2420 or mail the completed form to:
Medical Board of California
Attn: Central File Room
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
Requests also can be submitted via e-mail to:
Or, contact the Medical Board staff by phone at (916) 263-2525.
The public documents only will be mailed after payment has been received.
Instructions for Completing the Form
Please complete Section I with the following information:
- Your name, address, telephone number, fax number or e-mail address.
- Indicate if you are requesting documents for a government agency.
- Indicate if you need certified documents. (Note: Certified documents are generally only needed for either official government business or as evidence in court.)
- Provide the physician's full name.
- Provide the physician's license number, if known.
- Indicate, in the appropriate box, the method in which you would like to be notified of the cost associated with providing the documents.
Section II will be completed by the Medical Board staff and returned to you for payment.
Remitting Payment
Mail the completed request and payment for the public documents in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Medical Board of California to:
Medical Board of California
Attn: Central File Room
P.O. Box 255729
Sacramento, CA 95865-5729
Note: Credit cards are not accepted at this time.
