Discipline of Doctors Spikes in Delaware

Disciplinary actions against doctors in Delaware have increased dramatically since the first revelations in January 2010 that pediatrician Earl Bradley raped more than 100 of his patients.

The state enacted a slew of new laws last year aimed at cracking down on incompetent doctors.

The changes appear to have had a major impact. The News Journal of Wilmington reports that Delaware's disciplinary board took 22 serious actions against Doctors in 2010. That's an increase of 400 percent over the year before.

Through June of this year, an additional seven serious penalties had been levied. Serious actions are license revocations and suspensions, as well as probation and restrictions.

Doctors have been penalized for a wide range of infractions, including prescribing narcotics inappropriately and having a sexual relationship with a patient.