Law to bring back Illinois doctor database

CHICAGO — Patients will be able go online to look up information on Illinois doctors, including judgments and settlements in malpractice lawsuits, because of a law signed Tuesday.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Patient Right to Know Act in Chicago with other health legislation.

The law brings back a popular web-based tool available in Illinois for about two years. The state was forced to halt the feature when the Illinois Supreme Court struck down a medical malpractice reform law in its entirety. The doctor profile tool went dark when the court found the law unconstitutional.

The comeback of the searchable database in about two months will open up information on more than 46,000 doctors.

Illinois Medical Society President Dr. Wayne Polek says the doctor profiles should have been wrapped into larger legislation.