How to Check a Florida Doctor's License and Disciplinary History Before or After Treatment

You can check any Florida doctor’s license and disciplinary history for free using the state’s official online portal. The Florida Department of Health maintains a public database at mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us where you can verify if your physician is licensed, what specialty they hold, and whether they have any public disciplinary orders or certain malpractice payments above a dollar threshold set by law. For patients in Hialeah ZIP codes 33010, 33012, 33013, and 33016, or those treated at Hialeah Hospital or Palmetto General Hospital, this search takes less than five minutes. If your review reveals possible errors that caused harm, Florida law under Fla. Stat. § 766.106 requires strict pre-suit steps before you can file a lawsuit, and missing them can end your claim.

Where do I start? The Florida Department of Health license lookup explained step by step

Go to mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/Home. On the homepage, select “Health Care Practitioner” as your search type. Next, choose the correct licensing board: “Board of Medicine” for medical doctors (MDs) or “Board of Osteopathic Medicine” for DOs. Enter the doctor’s last name and first name, or use their license number with its prefix like “ME” for MDs. If the name is common, add “Hialeah” in the city field or select Miami-Dade County to narrow results. Set license status to “All” so you also see inactive or suspended licenses. Click into the full record, not just the summary row. The portal does not let you filter by ZIP code, so if you know your provider works near 33010, 33012, 33013, or 33016, manually scan results for those areas. This tool is free, requires no account, and is the primary source for license verification.

What does each piece of information on the results page actually mean?

“Clear/Active” means the doctor is currently licensed and allowed to practice. “Inactive / Clear Inactive” means they cannot legally practice right now. “Suspended” means the board has barred them from practice for a set time due to discipline. “Conditional Active” means they can see patients but must follow specific restrictions listed in a final order. “Authority Void” or “Administrative Revocation” means the license has been canceled and they cannot practice in Florida.

Disciplinary history comes from formal complaints resolved by a final order under Chapter 456, Florida Statutes. Each entry shows the violation type and penalty such as fines, probation, or required education. Always click the linked PDF of the final order because the summary may only show the most severe penalty. Note that investigations can take a long time and doctors can generally keep practicing during that time, so an active license does not mean there is no pending complaint.

Does the state publish malpractice claims against my doctor, and where do I find them?

The physician profile may include certain paid malpractice claims for MDs and DOs above a dollar threshold set by law (Fla. Stat. § 456.041). Smaller settlements may not appear. The National Practitioner Data Bank, a national record of malpractice payments, is not open to patients.

For a fuller picture, also check the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation closed-claims database at apps.fldfs.com/plcr/search/mplclaim.aspx. Search by the doctor’s name to see dates, injury descriptions, and payment amounts. A settlement does not mean the doctor admitted fault, and it often does not lead to disciplinary action. So a “Clear/Active” license alongside large paid claims is possible.

How do I check the hospitals and surgery centers where my doctor works, are they rated anywhere?

Use FloridaHealthFinder at quality.healthfinder.fl.gov to look up facility-level data. The site may provide hospital performance metrics, inspection reports, and licensing status, though the exact content can vary. Search directly for “Hialeah Hospital” (651 E 25th St, Hialeah, FL 33013) and “Palmetto General Hospital” (2001 W 68th St, Hialeah, FL 33016). You can also access ambulatory surgery center records through the same portal via the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) facility search. These reports show whether a facility is licensed, when inspections occurred, and if legal actions were taken. Facility issues can affect care quality even if your doctor has a clean individual record.

Does my doctor have malpractice insurance, and why does it matter if they don’t?

Malpractice insurance matters because it is usually how you receive money if you win a case. Without sufficient coverage or personal assets, a judgment may be uncollectable. Florida has financial responsibility rules for physicians, but they include exceptions, so a doctor may not carry malpractice insurance. The MQA profile may list whether the doctor reports carrying malpractice insurance and in what amount, but this is self-reported and not always current. An attorney can investigate coverage and asset details during an initial review. This is one reason to consult a lawyer early, not to file suit immediately, but to understand if pursuing a claim has practical value.

I found something worrying, what do I do next, and how do I protect my deadline?

Take two steps right away. First, file a complaint with the Florida Department of Health at mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us. Include the doctor’s name, treatment dates, facility address, and what you believe went wrong. This triggers a regulatory investigation but does not provide compensation.

Second, consult a personal injury attorney immediately about your legal rights. Under Fla. Stat. § 766.106, you must serve a written notice of intent to sue before filing a medical malpractice lawsuit. Before that notice is served, a verified written medical expert opinion supporting the claim is required (Fla. Stat. § 766.203), and the notice starts a mandatory 90-day pre-suit period in which both sides exchange information. You cannot skip this step. Under Fla. Stat. § 95.11, the deadline is generally two years from when the injury was or should have been discovered, with a four-year outer limit and some exceptions. Because the pre-suit process takes time, waiting until the last few months of the two-year window can make it impossible to meet both deadlines. A consultation does not obligate you to file a lawsuit but ensures your rights stay protected.

Frequently asked questions

Can I look up a doctor’s license in Florida for free without creating an account?
Yes. The Florida Department of Health’s MQA portal at mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us lets anyone search physician licenses for free with no login or account needed.

If a Florida doctor’s license says ‘Clear/Active,’ does that mean they have never had a malpractice claim?
No. “Clear/Active” only means the license is active with no current restrictions. It does not rule out settled malpractice claims, especially smaller ones below the threshold for the public profile.

My doctor treated me after a car accident in Hialeah and I think something went wrong. How long do I have to file a claim?
You generally have two years from when you discovered, or should have discovered, the injury, with a four-year outer limit and some exceptions (Fla. Stat. § 95.11). The pre-suit process under Fla. Stat. § 766.106 must finish before you can file a lawsuit, so act well before the two-year mark.

Where can I check the safety record of Hialeah Hospital or Palmetto General Hospital, not just the individual doctor?
Use FloridaHealthFinder at quality.healthfinder.fl.gov. Search by hospital name to find inspection reports, licensing status, and other facility-level data.

What happens if I file a complaint with the Florida Department of Health about my doctor?
The DOH will review your complaint and may open an investigation. If violations are found, they can impose fines, probation, or license restrictions. However, a DOH complaint does not result in compensation to you.

Hurt in an accident in Hialeah? Call Wolfson & Leon at 305-965-3766 for a free consultation. We speak Spanish, and there is no fee unless we win.