When and how should you find out if your doctor was put on probation by the California Medical Board? Sloppy medical records, inappropriate behavior with female patients and overprescribing with deadly consequences are a few of the reasons your doctor might be on probation. The Board says that its website's licensing portal is adequate, but patient-safety advocates say that a doctor should tell their patients if they are on probation. It will be discussed at this week's Medical Board meeting. Read on for more:
Wednesday
Thursday, Friday
Meeting: The Medical Board of California agenda for this week is jammed packed. It will be discussing the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners v. Federal Trade Commission on state boards. Boards such as the Medical Board of California have a majority of participants who are active in the fields they regulate. In boards constructed like the CMB, decisions they make could further their own interests rather than the interests of the state or consumers, according to the FTC. It may force major changes, including have more public members on boards.
They will be discussing a push by Consumers Union to require physicians to notify patients when they are on probation. In addition, they will be discussing proposals, and may come to decisions, on creating a program to deal with physicians who have substance abuse problems. Will the Board listen to consumer advocates and ensure that doctors can't secretly go into treatment and avoid accountability to their patients or the Board? They'll also be getting an update on CURES, the state's prescription drug database.
Thursday 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
