This survey of 3000 randomly chosen physicians aimed to assess their knowledge and understanding of reporting adverse drug events. Of the responses, only 57% knew of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s reporting system, and a very small percentage actually had reported an adverse event through their system. Although physicians acknowledge the importance of reporting systems, as well as their feeling of professional obligation, the reporting systems themselves were felt to be inconvenient. The study presents additional results suggesting why reporting failed to occur and factors predicting such behavior. The authors conclude that better methods of reporting adverse drug events must include a combination of educational curriculums to model desired action and suggest that state medical societies play a supporting role.