Authority and scope
Check the professional and concern
The Board of Medicine regulates MDs and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine regulates DOs. PA regulation involves both boards and the Council on Physician Assistants. The Department of Health provides a shared complaint route; supply the correct credential and license details.
Supporting guidance: Florida Board of Medicine ↗Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine ↗Florida Statutes: section 458.347 ↗Florida DOH: Complaints and Enforcement ↗
Choose the right licensing authority
MD complaints: Department of Health
MD matters involve the Board of Medicine through shared DOH intake.
Open this official route ↗DO complaints: Department of Health
DO matters involve the Board of Osteopathic Medicine through shared DOH intake.
Open this official route ↗PA complaints: Department of Health
PAs use shared DOH intake; both medical boards and the PA Council have regulatory roles.
Open this official route ↗How the official source says to file
- Follow the official page's Health Care Complaint Portal link. Licensed-practitioner complaints cannot be filed by telephone; ordinary complaints must be written, signed, and legally sufficient.
- Provide relevant medical records, correspondence, contracts, and other supporting copies. The Department instructs the patient or legal representative to request records. Downstream online signature and authorization screens were not readable.
Supporting guidance: Florida DOH: Complaints and Enforcement ↗Florida Statutes: section 456.073 ↗
What this route may not provide
The Department can pursue licensing sanctions, including restrictions, education, fines, suspension, or revocation. It cannot represent you in civil claims for repayment or injury damages. Ordinary fee disputes, billing disputes, personality conflicts, and rudeness are generally excluded.
Supporting guidance: Florida DOH: Complaints and Enforcement ↗
Do not guess about confidentiality
Anonymous written complaints may be investigated if legally sufficient, substantial, and supported after preliminary inquiry. The practitioner generally receives the complaint when investigated. Public confidentiality generally ends 10 days after probable cause, or earlier waiver; this does not make patient records public.
Supporting guidance: Florida Statutes: section 456.073 ↗
Six-year administrative-complaint rule; exceptions apply
Section 456.073(13) generally requires the agency's administrative complaint within six years of the incident. Criminal conduct, controlled-substance diversion, sexual misconduct, and impairment are excepted. Fraud, concealment, or intentional misrepresentation preventing discovery can extend the period, at most to 12 years. File promptly; the agency needs time to act.
Supporting guidance: Florida Statutes: section 456.073 ↗
What may happen after filing
DOH assesses legal sufficiency, investigates, and refers qualifying matters for probable-cause review and possible discipline. Cases may close without discipline; complainants receive status notices.
Supporting guidance: Florida DOH: Complaints and Enforcement ↗Florida Statutes: section 456.073 ↗
Prepare a reviewable submission
State the concern you want reviewed, then add a short chronology, best supporting records, factual consequences, and a specific request for review.
Sources and scope
Florida DOH: Complaints and Enforcement ↗
Shared intake, preparation, limits, investigation, confidentiality and FAQ timing statements.
Source checked: September 19, 2026
Florida Board of Medicine ↗
MD and PA licensing information and shared DOH complaint route.
Source checked: September 19, 2026
Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine ↗
DO regulator and shared DOH complaint route.
Source checked: September 19, 2026
Florida Statutes: section 458.347 ↗
Both boards' and Council on Physician Assistants' regulatory roles.
Source checked: September 19, 2026
Florida Statutes: section 456.073 ↗
Signed and anonymous complaints, disclosure, administrative proceedings and six-year rule with exceptions.
Source checked: September 19, 2026
Source check: September 19, 2026. This records a review of the linked material, not a decision about your case. No clinical or legal reviewer is identified for this guide. Confirm current instructions with the receiving authority.