It has been stated by a doctor survey study that no one was checking how competent doctors were at their professional expertise.

A data based on a national survey conducted in 2009 was analysed by a team from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The data was based on about 3,000 physicians practicing in cardiology, anesthesiology, family practice, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics and psychiatry.

Three areas were taken and the physicians were questioned in these areas. They were asked about how responsible they felt about reporting an impaired physician by alcohol and drugs and who was incompetent. How prepared were doctors to do this and did they feel comfortable in doing so and if they have experienced such thinks with their colleagues or someone else.

Catherine DesRoches, lead author of the study, said, "Self-regulation is the main way to protect patients from harm and make sure that impaired and incompetent physicians get the help that they need."

It was concluded that physicians who felt they were prepared to report impaired physicians were 70 per cent, and about 64 per cent stated that they could report incompetent physicians and about 36 per cent said that they did not feel they had any such obligation.