It currently takes 1387 days, nearly four years, for a complaint about a doctor to make it entirely through the complaint process at the Medical Board of California (MBC), assuming it doesn't get blocked along the way. Just getting to the first part of the process, where the case the Central Complaint Unit takes 148 days, about five months. At this stage, they review the complaint, determine if the MBC has jurisdiction, gather initial medical records, and have a medical consultant provide an initial opinion. After that, a decision is made to either close the complaint or refer it for a full investigation.
Estimated Timeline for an MBC Complaint
Step 1: Central Complaint Unit (CCU) Intake and Initial Review
This is the first hurdle. After you file a complaint, it goes to the CCU. They review the complaint, determine if the MBC has jurisdiction, gather initial medical records, and have a medical consultant provide an initial opinion.
- Average Time for this Stage: 148 days
At the end of this nearly five-month period, a decision is made to either close the complaint or refer it for a full investigation.
Step 2: Formal Investigation
If your complaint is not closed, it is sent for a formal investigation. This is handled by one of two units: the in-house, non-sworn investigators of the Complaint Investigation Office (CIO), or the sworn peace officers of the external Health Quality Investigation Unit (HQIU) for more complex "standard of care" cases.
- Average Time for HQIU Investigation: 582 days
This stage alone takes, on average, more than a year and a half.
- Cumulative Time at End of Stage 2: Approximately 730 days (or 2 years)
Step 3: Attorney General (AG) Legal Review
After the investigation is complete, the case file is sent to the Health Quality Enforcement (HQE) section of the Attorney General's office. A Deputy Attorney General reviews the evidence to decide if a formal Accusation can be filed against the doctor's license.
- Average Time for this Stage: 218 days
This legal review adds, on average, another seven months to the process.
- Cumulative Time at End of Stage 3: Approximately 948 days (or 2.6 years)
Step 4: The Legal Process (Post-Accusation)
If the AG's office files an Accusation, the case enters a formal legal phase. This can involve settlement negotiations or a full administrative hearing before a judge. The final decision is ultimately made by a panel of the Medical Board itself.
- Average Time for this Stage: 439 days
This final stage adds another year and two months on average.
- Total Estimated Time for a Case to Go Through the Full Process: Approximately 1,387 days (or 3.8 years)
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