Check the record that answers your question.

Choose the right record

• For a doctor, use a state medical board.

  Medical boards hold licence records and details of public punishment for breaking their rules. The detail varies between states.

• For a pharmacy, use a state pharmacy board.

  The US drug agency links readers to those state licence searches.

• For an approval claim, use the drug agency's product information.

  The US drug agency is called the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A business entering its details on FDA’s register does not prove approval. Neither does a National Drug Code, which is an identifying code in a drug list.

• For an FDA warning letter to a company, look for later updates.

  After a warning letter, FDA and the company may discuss or address the problems. Later FDA updates may change what the warning means. Check the original letter and any later update together.

Understand what each record can tell you

A public licence record is not a rating of care.

An FDA warning letter describes problems the agency says it found at that time. It is not a final decision by a court.

If you cannot find a warning letter, FDA may never have reviewed the company. That does not prove the company passed a check.

Problem-report data also has limits. A report cannot establish cause or tell you how common a problem is.