Study critical of medical licensing

An new analysis by the Cato Institute casts doubt on the benefits of licensing medical professionals (Source: “New Cato Study Advocates Eliminating Medical Licensing,” Cato Institute news release, Sept. 16, 2008.

The analysis, Medical Licensing: An Obstacle to Affordable, Quality Care, concluded that medical licensing by health care professionals significantly reduces access and does little to improve quality of care.

"Consumers would benefit were states to eliminate professional licensing in medicine and leave education, credentialing, and scope-of-practice decisions to the private sector and other courts," wrote Cato adjunct scholar Shirley Svorny in the analysis.