The AMA(SA) is a membership organisation representing the medical profession. It sets and maintains ethical guidelines and standards for the profession so that the highest quality of care for patients is maintained. Membership is not compulsory and not all doctors are members. The AMA(SA) has no legal jurisdiction over any doctor.

People wishing to make a complaint about a doctor can:

• Discuss the matter directly with the doctor concerned
• Write to the doctors concerned
• If the complaint relates to a hospital, contact the Medical Administrator at the hospital
• Contact the Office of the Health & Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC) if you have special needs or an attempt to resolve your complaint directly with a doctor has not succeeded. You can also phone HCSCC Enquiry Service from Monday to Thursday, 10am - 4pm, on (08) 8226 8666, or Toll Free for Country SA on 1800 232 007.

From 1 July 2010, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the national agency responsible for the registration and accreditation of ten health professions – including the medical profession – in Australia (with the exception of the state of Western Australia). This change is part of the introduction of national registration and accreditation for these professions. There is also a new national Medical Board. If you have a query about whether a doctor is registered, you can contact AHPRA on 1300 419 495.