Complaints, Information from Credible and Verifiable Public Sources, and Third-Party Comments about Program Quality

The LCME will consider complaints, information from credible and verifiable public media (i.e., print or online newspaper articles), and third-party comments about program quality, which, if substantiated, may constitute noncompliance with one or more accreditation standards and/or unsatisfactory performance in one or more accreditation elements. The LCME will not intervene on behalf of an individual complainant regarding, for example, matters of admission, appointment, promotion, or dismissal of faculty or students.

Complaints or comments must be made in writing and may come from any source, such as current or former students and faculty. The LCME will not consider video or audio materials submitted as part of a complaint. Anonymous complaints and duplicate complaints by one individual that address the same circumstances will not be considered. In order to be reviewed, a complaint or comment must be accompanied by a signed consent form in which the complainant and any corroborators authorize the release of the written complaint and corroborating materials to the dean of the medical school, members and staff of the LCME, their respective attorneys, and appropriate outside parties.

The written complaint should contain as much information and detail as possible about the circumstances that form the basis of the complaint. If possible, the complainant should cite the relevant accreditation standards or elements relating to the complaint, as contained in Functions and Structure of a Medical School (available in the Publications tab). If the complaint indicates circumstances which, if substantiated, would indicate areas of noncompliance with accreditation standards/unsatisfactory performance in accreditation elements, the LCME Secretariat will, if needed, contact the author to obtain additional documentation or corroboration. If the complainant does not comply with the request for additional information or does not provide a signed consent form, the file will be closed and no further action will be taken.

The LCME shall attempt to maintain the confidentiality of complaints/comments and any corroborating material. However, any information about a program or school may be released to the dean of the medical school, members and staff of the LCME, their respective attorneys, and other persons authorized by the dean, required by law or necessity, at the discretion of the LCME, to fully investigate the complaint.

For information about the LCME procedures that will be followed to investigate complaints or comments , consult the LCME Rules of Procedure available on the Publications page. For a list of accredited medical education programs leading to the MD degree consult the Directory of Accredited Programs.

Complaints and comments may be submitted to lcme@aamc.org and must include a completed consent form. Questions about the process may be submitted to lcme@aamc.org.

A complaint about the LCME itself, LCME practices and standards, or the conduct of an LCME accreditation survey must be directed to both LCME Co-Secretaries and submitted via e-mail to lcme@aamc.org.