Many states have physician information readily available.
For instance, Cali
has You can see any disciplenary action, status of license, etc from:
http://www.medbd.ca.gov/lookup.html

"If a physician has been disciplined or formally
accused of wrongdoing by the Board. If a physician has been disciplined by a
medical board of another state or federal government agency. If a physician has
been convicted of a felony reported to the Board after January 3, 1991. If a
physician has been convicted of a misdemeanor after January 1, 2007 that
results in a disciplinary action or an accusation being filed by the Board, and
the accusation is not subsequently withdrawn or dismissed. If a physician has
been issued a citation for a minor violation of the law by the Board within the
last five years. This is not considered disciplinary action. Any hospital
disciplinary actions that resulted in the termination or revocation of the
physician's privileges to provide healthcare services at a healthcare facility
for a medical disciplinary cause or reason reported to the Board after January
1, 1995. After January 1, 1998, all malpractice judgments and arbitration
awards (between January 1, 1993 and January 1, 1998, only those malpractice
judgments and arbitration awards more than $30,000 were required to be reported
to the Board). After January 1, 2003, malpractice settlements over $30,000 that
meet the following criteria: Four or more in a 10-year period (beginning
1/1/03) if the physician practices in a high-risk specialty (obstetrics, orthopedic
surgery, plastic surger...

This site seems to have several states, but some of the
links are broken:

http://www.healthcarechoices.org/profile.htm

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