Public Information
Access to Reports
While access to reports stored in the Data Bank is not available to the general public, it is available to registered entities with Federal authority to query the Data Bank. The Data Bank is used only for the Data Bank's mission of protecting the public and providing quality health care. However, you may request information from the Data Bank's public use file in a form that does not identify any particular organization or practitioner (see Access to Statistical Data below). For more information, please see Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 5 USC § 552 and Privacy Act of 1974, 5 USC § 552 a or visit the About Legislation and Regulations page. For additional information on specific practitioners, call the Data Bank Customer Service Center.
Access to Statistical Data
Data Bank statistical data is made available to the public for learning and analytical use. These data provide information about the kinds of organizations that use the Data Bank and the types of reports that are received each year. There is a NPDB public use data file, as well as summary reports and annual reports for both Data Banks. For more information and to access the data, see About Statistical Data.
Attorney Access to the Data Bank
Plaintiff's Attorney and Individuals Representing Themselves
Under certain limited conditions, a plaintiff's attorney or a plaintiff representing him or herself (pro se) is allowed to obtain information from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB). These conditions are: A medical malpractice action or claim must have been filed by the plaintiff against a hospital in a State or Federal court or other adjudicative body and the practitioner on whom the information is requested must be named in the action or claim. Also, the plaintiff must provide evidence that the hospital failed to query on the named practitioner. The disclosed information may be used solely against the hospital and not the named practitioner. For more information, see Information for Attorneys.
Access to the Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank (HIPDB) is not granted to attorneys.
Defense Attorney
Defense attorneys are not permitted access to the NPDB or to the HIPDB; however, the defendant practitioner is permitted to perform a self query at any time.
