Any new doctor in North Dakota will be fingerprinted and have a background check.

The State Board of Medical Examiners just started the new policy this week.

The background checks will give the board the same kind information law enforcement has access to.

Legislators passed a law this year that made background checks mandatory for many positions like teachers and officers and authorized checks for other professions.

Duane Houdek with the North Dakota State Board of Medical Examiners says in the past there have been physicians who have applied to practice in North Dakota who've had criminal histories.

This will catch those applicants before they are hired.

(Duane Houdek / ND State Board of Medical Examiners) "That patient physician relationship is one of the closest you can have. So it is of the utmost importance that we know that persons background. If there's any criminal activity or any charges that would lead to possible imparment of that relationship."


Houdek says about half the states do background checks on physicians. He says this policy may help keep physicians with criminal histories out of North Dakota. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list