Diversion

CA Bill Still Shelters Doctors Who Fail Drug Tests

Submitted by Carmen Balber on Tue, 06/21/2016 - 16:38

Would you want to know if your doctor was in addiction treatment and failed a drug test? Shouldn't he have to tell the hospital he works at? What about the state Medical Board responsible for disciplining physicians who place patients at risk?

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Meth and Medicine: What Patients Deserve To Know About Their Doctors

Submitted by Carmen Balber on Thu, 05/05/2016 - 12:04

UPDATE Saturday May 9 -- Those watching Friday's Medical Board meeting from home can be excused for coming away thinking they are champions of patient safety. Members said so often enough.  But true to form, the Board stuck with doctors' interests when they voted to support SB 1177 and take a neutral if amended stance on SB 1033.

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Doctors Swallow Bitter Pill

Submitted by Carmen Balber on Tue, 04/19/2016 - 14:07

The Medical Board, whose job it is to keep patients safe from dangerous doctors, should be notified when a doctor with addiction issues fails a drug test, right?

Senators Hill, Block and Jackson extracted that commitment from the California Medical Association and Senator Galgiani yesterday, at a hearing into Galgiani's bill, SB 1177, that would create a drug and alcohol abuse program for doctors at the California Medical Board.

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