Minnesota Statutes Health (Ch. 144-159) § 147.161. Physician accountability

Subdivision 1. Investigation. The board shall maintain and keep current a file containing the reports and complaints filed against persons regulated by the board in the state. Each complaint filed with the board pursuant to section 214.10, subdivision 1, shall be investigated according to section 214.10, subdivision 2.

Whenever the files maintained by the board show that a professional malpractice settlement or award to the plaintiff has been made against a person regulated by the board as reported by insurers pursuant to section 147.111, the executive director of the board shall notify the board and the board may authorize a review of the regulated person's practice.

Subd. 2. Attorney general investigates.When the board initiates a review of a physician's practice it shall notify the attorney general who shall investigate the matter in the same manner as provided in section 214.10. If an investigation is to be made, the attorney general shall notify the physician, and, if the incident being investigated occurred there, the administrator and chief of staff at the medical care facilities in which the physician serves.

Subd. 3. Access to hospital records.The board shall have access to hospital and medical records of a patient treated by the physician under review if the patient signs a written consent permitting such access. If no consent form has been signed, the hospital or physician shall first delete data in the record which identifies the patient before providing it to the board.