How to check up on your surgeon?

I was reading the recent post on the main message board about a doctor in St Petersberg who was written up in Reader's Digest about his terrible record. There was a woman scheduled today to have surgery with him -- her friend read the article and was trying to contact her at the last minute. I don't know what the outcome was. Anyway, it got me to thinking. How have you found information on your own doctors? I have tried going to docboard.org and there doesn't seem to be any info for Florida. Any advise?

Karen, You can try and go to Myflorida.com here is link hope it works let me know if it doesn't it may give you some info not sure exactly how much http://ww2.doh.state.fl.us/irm00praes/praslist.asp Linda R

I looked up a doctor that has a terrible reputation and the license is clear and there's no judgements or suits or anything that I could find. I still believe we are responsible for asking all the hard questions. Pre-Op Jan