The Department of Health oversees all doctors and hospitals in New York State. Their job is to make sure that doctors and hospitals are treating patients appropriately and not putting the general public in danger. If you file a complaint with the Department of Health they investigate your claim. They review the medical records, talk with the people involved and come to their own conclusions about whether the treatment was appropriate. If they find that there were 'deficiencies' with the manner in which you or your loved one were treated, the Department of Health has many options available to them to address the deficiencies. They can order a fine be paid; they can suspend or revoke a medical license; they can direct that a hospital prepare a statement of corrections and order staff to be re-trained; they can also sanction a doctor or hospital for their actions.