Oregon

Each state has its own set of statutes and regulations on licensing doctors, accommodating patients who wish to file complaints, and releasing information about physicians who have been subject to discipline and legal action. On this page, we’re sharing the key findings regarding Oregon, which we will continue to update as the series progresses.

Key fact: Only orders issued since 2011 are listed under Board Actions on the Oregon Medical Board's website. The public must phone to obtain the doctor’s licensure number, license status, specialty and other basic information, limited to three names per phone call. To obtain older orders, the public must file written requests.

Researching a doctor

  • Accurate records of sexual abuse accusations against doctors are not always easily accessible. In Oregon, the best chance of finding problems is to search the records offered by the Oregon Medical Board. Please note that license search results typically include all public disciplinary actions, not just those involving sexual misconduct, and can sometimes include vague language. Also, some states deal with some disciplinary issues privately; private board orders are not included.

Where to file a complaint

Quoted

“I decided that the risk/benefit ratio was such that this is something I would do.”

—A psychiatrist, explaining his decision to have a sexual relationship with a patient. The board also cited him for other violations, and it revoked his license.

Highlighted case

Dr. David Oliver Burleson

The Oregon Medical Board accused Burleson of inappropriately touching two patients in 2003 and 2004 while they were under anesthesia and being moved from a surgical chair to a recovery bed.

Burleson acknowledged to the board that he had on occasions phoned female patients after their surgeries for his personal gratification.

During an evaluation, he acknowledged that two to four times a year since about 2000, he had looked under the gowns of female patients without a medical purpose; inappropriately touched female patients while providing medical service, inappropriately placed EKG leads on female patients for his sexual gratification, and fondled the breasts of sedated patients. The board reported him to law enforcement.

Burleson was convicted of sex crimes under a plea agreement and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. (The Associated Press reported that a grand jury had indicted Burleson on charges that would have carried mandatory minimum sentences of as much as 12 years. The charges in the plea agreement did not carry mandatory minimum sentences, then-prosecutor Christine Mascal confirmed).

Burleson permanently surrendered his license in 2008.

In his response to the Journal-Constitution, Burleson directly addressed only the nature of the plea agreement and no other details of the case.

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