Probation

Patients' Right to Know About Doctors' Crimes

As the legislature begins its final weeks a critical patient safety measure is awaiting its fate.

Senator Jerry Hill and patient safety advocates have worked for years to ensure patients have the right to know if their doctor is on probation for violations that place patient safety at risk.

Hill’s plan would inform patients if their doctor is on probation for cases involving sexual misconduct, criminal conviction involving their practice, or drug or alcohol abuse that affects their patients.

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

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.

Drink, Drugs and Disclosure Day For Doctors

Monday is Drink, Drugs and Disclosure Day for doctors in Sacramento when three major patient safety bills are scheduled to be heard in the Senate Business & Professions committee.

The common theme is oversight and transparency for doctors. Will the Senate require openness and accountability from the medical community, especially when drugs and alcohol are involved?

Brown's Probation Initiative Gut-and-Amend

Governor Jerry Brown's use of the new “Ballot Initiative Transparency Act” has made the citizen initiative process look more like legislative sausage-making.  

Will Medical Board Inform Patients or Protect Docs on Probation?

Last week, the California Medical Board failed a critical test on whether it can prove to the Legislature that it has refocused its priorities on patient protection above physician interests.

Capitol Watchdog: Upcoming Meetings to Watch

A Medical Board task force (it's called Patient Notification, when it really should be Physician Probation Notification) will be discussing possible protocols for notifying patients about doctors on probation.

Capitol Watchdog is owned and operated by nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. For more information about Consumer Watchdog visit http://www.consumerwatchdog.org