The California Medical Board, in an unanimous vote, Thursday to support a bill that would require doctors to check a state prescription database before prescribing the most addictive medications – like OxyContin and other opioids – to help prevent prescription drug addiction and thousands of overdose deaths.

The abysmal patient safety record of California hospitals exposed in a national report card highlights the lack of legal deterrence and safeguards to protect consumers.

The Leapfrog Group, an employer-backed nonprofit group focused on healthcare quality, gave nearly 40 percent of California hospitals a C, D or F grade. These poor grades revealed hospitals that were unable to significantly reduce infections, accidents and errors.

Proposals under consideration in San Francisco and in the California Senate aimed at regulating home sharing platforms like Airbnb should be amended to ensure privacy and allow occupancy taxes to be collected.