The front page story “Doctors in Sex Cases Put on ‘Honor System’” (Oct. 7) raises serious questions about our state’s monitoring of health professionals who have been disciplined.  Not addressed in the story is the fact that our state’s budget crisis has prompted state officials to divert funding intended for disciplinary activity to other priorities. 

Physicians pay a significant fee for their medical licenses and Illinois law requires these fees be earmarked specifically for the Illinois Medical Disciplinary Fund.  The fund is intended to support the investigatory and disciplinary duties of the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation (IDPR).   In fact, the Illinois State Medical Society supported  a law that would have doubled the number of IDPR investigators, but over the last three years our elected officials have raided the disciplinary fund to the tune of $18.9 million to pay other bills and left those positions unfilled.  These financial raids have seriously undermined IDPR’s ability to carry out its mission. 

How can we expect IDPR to do its job when it faces the annual diversion of funds that are specifically intended for disciplinary activity?  We need our lawmakers to act responsibly, leave the fund untouched, and allow IDPR to serve its purpose for Illinois physicians and patients.

Sincerely,

Steven M. Malkin, MD, FACP
President, Illinois State Medical Society