Patients who feel they have legitimate complaints about treatments they have received or feel that information they were given or read on a website was misleading from clinics/doctors in the United States do have some recourse. Legal action is also an option especially if the treatment results in injury or death.
Here is some information that may be useful. In most instances a person can make a complaint and their name will be kept in confidence by the agency it is filed with. The FTC will also accept consumer complaints anonymously if that is preferred. Complaints can be made by phone or online with most agencies.
Patients need not fear that the information they provide will be made public. These agencies exist to give consumers protection. It takes patient involvement to alert others if you feel that you did not receive the type of care that you were promised or if you became ill or were injured. Making a simple report may help save someone else from being taken advantage of. There is no cost involved with these agencies.
State Attorney General - Do an internet search for the state where treatment was obtained to get information on filing a complaint.
State Medical Boards - Do an online search for the type of medicine practiced by the doctor who treated you. There may be separate boards depending on what type of doctor he or she is.
Better Business Bureau - Check online as each city/state will have its own BBB.
FTC www.ftc.gov 1-866-382-4357 Report false or misleading advertising here. This should also be reported to the other agencies.
FBI http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field/listing_by_state
FDA
Consumer Complaint Coordinators
To report adverse reactions or other problems with FDA-regulated products, contact the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator for your geographic area. If you require the use of a Relay Service, please call the Federal Relay Services (1-800-877-8339). This is a toll free relay service to call Federal agencies from TTY devices.
Please Note: There is not a Consumer Complaint Coordinator in each state. Consumer Complaint Coordinators are assigned by regions. Therefore, several states will have the same Consumer Complaint Coordinator assigned to it.
Alabama--866-289-3399
Alaska--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Arizona--(949) 608-3530
Arkansas--(214) 253-5237
California (Northern)--(510) 337-6741
California (Southern)--(949) 608-3530
Colorado--(303) 236-3044
Connecticut-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Delaware-- (toll-free) 877-689-8073
District of Columbia--(410) 779-5713
Florida -- (866) 337-6272
Georgia--(404) 253-1169
Hawaii-- 808-522-8011 x100
Idaho--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Illinois--(312) 353-7840
Indiana--(313) 393-8189
Iowa--(913) 752-2440
Kansas--(913) 752-2440
Kentucky--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Toll-free in Kentucky: 800-437-2382
Louisiana--866-289-3399
Maine-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Maryland--(410) 779-5713
Massachusetts-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Michigan--(313) 393-8189
Minnesota--(612) 758-7221
Mississippi--866-289-3399
Missouri--(913) 752-2440
Montana--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Nebraska--(913) 752-2440
Nevada--(510) 337-6741
New Hampshire-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
New Jersey-- (973) 331-4998
New Mexico--(303) 236-3044
New York -- (toll-free) 866-446-9055
North Carolina--(404) 253-1169
North Dakota--(612) 758-7221
Ohio--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Toll free in Ohio: 800-437-2382
Oklahoma--(214) 253-5237
Oregon--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Pennsylvania--877-689-8073
Rhode Island-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
South Carolina--(404) 253-1169
South Dakota--(612) 758-7221
Tennessee-- 866-289-3399
Texas (all areas except Houston)--(214) 253-5237
Houston area only: (713) 293-1432
Utah--(303) 236-3044
Vermont-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Virginia--(410) 779-5713
Washington-- (toll free) 800-353-3965
West Virginia--(410) 779-5713
Wisconsin--(612) 758-7221
Wyoming--(303) 236-3044
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands-- (toll free) 800-332-0127
Here is some information that may be useful. In most instances a person can make a complaint and their name will be kept in confidence by the agency it is filed with. The FTC will also accept consumer complaints anonymously if that is preferred. Complaints can be made by phone or online with most agencies.
Patients need not fear that the information they provide will be made public. These agencies exist to give consumers protection. It takes patient involvement to alert others if you feel that you did not receive the type of care that you were promised or if you became ill or were injured. Making a simple report may help save someone else from being taken advantage of. There is no cost involved with these agencies.
State Attorney General - Do an internet search for the state where treatment was obtained to get information on filing a complaint.
State Medical Boards - Do an online search for the type of medicine practiced by the doctor who treated you. There may be separate boards depending on what type of doctor he or she is.
Better Business Bureau - Check online as each city/state will have its own BBB.
FTC www.ftc.gov 1-866-382-4357 Report false or misleading advertising here. This should also be reported to the other agencies.
FBI http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field/listing_by_state
FDA
Consumer Complaint Coordinators
To report adverse reactions or other problems with FDA-regulated products, contact the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator for your geographic area. If you require the use of a Relay Service, please call the Federal Relay Services (1-800-877-8339). This is a toll free relay service to call Federal agencies from TTY devices.
Please Note: There is not a Consumer Complaint Coordinator in each state. Consumer Complaint Coordinators are assigned by regions. Therefore, several states will have the same Consumer Complaint Coordinator assigned to it.
Alabama--866-289-3399
Alaska--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Arizona--(949) 608-3530
Arkansas--(214) 253-5237
California (Northern)--(510) 337-6741
California (Southern)--(949) 608-3530
Colorado--(303) 236-3044
Connecticut-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Delaware-- (toll-free) 877-689-8073
District of Columbia--(410) 779-5713
Florida -- (866) 337-6272
Georgia--(404) 253-1169
Hawaii-- 808-522-8011 x100
Idaho--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Illinois--(312) 353-7840
Indiana--(313) 393-8189
Iowa--(913) 752-2440
Kansas--(913) 752-2440
Kentucky--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Toll-free in Kentucky: 800-437-2382
Louisiana--866-289-3399
Maine-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Maryland--(410) 779-5713
Massachusetts-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Michigan--(313) 393-8189
Minnesota--(612) 758-7221
Mississippi--866-289-3399
Missouri--(913) 752-2440
Montana--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Nebraska--(913) 752-2440
Nevada--(510) 337-6741
New Hampshire-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
New Jersey-- (973) 331-4998
New Mexico--(303) 236-3044
New York -- (toll-free) 866-446-9055
North Carolina--(404) 253-1169
North Dakota--(612) 758-7221
Ohio--(513) 679-2700, ext. 124
Toll free in Ohio: 800-437-2382
Oklahoma--(214) 253-5237
Oregon--(toll free) 800-353-3965
Pennsylvania--877-689-8073
Rhode Island-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
South Carolina--(404) 253-1169
South Dakota--(612) 758-7221
Tennessee-- 866-289-3399
Texas (all areas except Houston)--(214) 253-5237
Houston area only: (713) 293-1432
Utah--(303) 236-3044
Vermont-- (toll-free) 800-891-8295
Virginia--(410) 779-5713
Washington-- (toll free) 800-353-3965
West Virginia--(410) 779-5713
Wisconsin--(612) 758-7221
Wyoming--(303) 236-3044
Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands-- (toll free) 800-332-0127