This section explains that the board overseeing physicians and surgeons in California is responsible for enforcing rules against those who violate medical regulations. It's their job to look into complaints about unprofessional conduct, whether these come from the public or other sources. They also investigate big financial settlements where a doctor's mistake led to injuries. If any reports hint at serious misconduct, they're supposed to act quickly, within 30 days, to decide if urgent actions like suspending a license are necessary.

This law requires the director to appoint an independent enforcement monitor by March 1, 2022, to evaluate the board's enforcement efforts for two years. The monitor, who must be impartial and not previously affiliated with relevant organizations, will oversee how complaints are handled and whether disciplinary actions are consistent and timely. They will look for any bias, particularly against physicians of color, and suggest improvements or cost-saving measures. The monitor must report findings twice; one initial report by January 2023 and a final report by July 2023. The reports should be public, and the board is to cover the monitor's costs. The monitor doesn't control the board, but the board must cooperate with them.

The Medical Board of California and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine must focus their efforts on cases where doctors pose the highest risk to public safety. These cases, handled with urgency, include severe negligence leading to patient harm, substance abuse affecting patient safety, excessive or improper prescribing of drugs or cannabis, sexual misconduct, and practicing under the influence. While they can prioritize other types of misconduct, those cases cannot surpass the priority of these severe issues. The board must also report annually on actions taken for each priority case.

This law outlines how complaints about a doctor's quality of care are processed. Before investigation, complaints must be reviewed by medical experts to see if further action is needed. These experts look at patient records, the doctor's statements, and other expert opinions. If requested information isn't provided within 10 working days, experts can still review and potentially investigate. The board can also take emergency actions if necessary.

This law requires that before closing a complaint about a healthcare professional's quality of care, the board must try to interview the person who made the complaint, the patient, or their representative, unless the complaint is anonymous. If there's no response or the request for an interview is declined within 30 days, the board can close the complaint if appropriate. However, the complaint can be reopened if new, relevant information is provided later. This process cannot begin until additional staff are allocated to the board.

This law states that only the Medical Board of California can investigate or start disciplinary actions against physicians and surgeons with a certificate under Section 2050. Investigating or starting disciplinary actions includes any communication with the physician about violations of the Medical Practice Act or other related laws. Additionally, any written complaints about a physician's professional conduct or competence must be handled according to specific rules in Section 43.96 of the Civil Code.

If there's a case against a licensed professional accusing them of insurance fraud or a related crime, the board must look into it as long as the district attorney doesn't mind.

This law states that a doctor cannot include certain clauses in settlement agreements related to disputes from their medical practice. Specifically, they can't prevent someone from talking to or cooperating with the medical board, from filing a complaint, or from withdrawing a complaint with the board. Any such clauses are invalid because they go against public policy. Doctors who try to use these clauses can face disciplinary action from the medical board.

This section explains that the board can deny a medical license to someone who has acted unprofessionally or done something that would normally result in a license being taken away. Instead of denying outright, they might offer a probationary license, which comes with certain conditions like working under supervision, restrictions on prescribing drugs, or attending treatment programs. If a probationary license is given, its terms can be changed or ended by the board after a formal request is reviewed. An application will be automatically denied if the person must register as a sex offender for certain offenses unless it's only a minor misdemeanor. If denied, a person can't reapply for at least three years, but this can be shortened to one year for good reason. Any probationary license issued will be publicly visible for ten years on the board's website.

This law allows the medical board to issue a doctor’s license even if the applicant has committed small violations. Instead of denying the license or putting the doctor on probation, the board might issue a public letter of reprimand at the same time. This reprimand will be removed from public records after three years but will be visible to the public and online until then. Importantly, this statute does not change the board’s ability to give a full, unrestricted license.

This law states that the medical boards can investigate and discipline doctors and podiatrists who do not follow infection control guidelines, potentially risking the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis B. Exceptions are made if there is a good reason, like during a standard organ transplant. The boards are encouraged to consult with other medical boards to make sure everyone is on the same page regarding these rules, and they must inform licensed professionals about the latest safety measures for controlling infections.

This law gives the California Board of Podiatric Medicine the job of enforcing standards and dealing with any professional missteps by doctors of podiatric medicine. If such a doctor breaks the rules, the Board can deny or conditionally issue licenses, and decide to revoke or suspend them when necessary. They follow specified procedures similar to those used for other medical professionals, ensuring fair hearings and consistent enforcement.

This section explains that while the board can delegate certain tasks like investigations and inspections to the executive director or other personnel, it cannot delegate the power to make final decisions on disciplinary actions against license holders. This authority remains with the board. However, the executive director is allowed to finalize certain types of decisions, such as those resulting from defaults or agreed-upon license surrenders.

This law states that the confidentiality typically applied to doctor-patient communications doesn't protect information during investigations by medical boards or the Attorney General related to complaints about doctors' conduct. Patient names are kept confidential unless necessary for investigation procedures. Investigators can look into any alleged violations and access relevant documents if patient consent is given, or if related to business operations of a licensee. In cases involving a patient's death, medical records can be reviewed without consent to determine if the doctor's actions were improper, given unsuccessful attempts to contact the deceased's representative. Requested documents must be provided within 15 business days unless there is a valid reason for delay. Failing to provide these documents is deemed unprofessional conduct, and inspections should not disrupt medical operations.

If you provided any original documents to the California Board of Podiatric Medicine or the Attorney General, they have to give those documents back to you within a week.

This law says that if doctors or health care facilities are asked for a patient's certified medical records by the board, and the patient has agreed in writing, they have to provide those records within a specific time. If they don't, they could face fines of $1,000 per day until they hand over the records, with a maximum fine of $10,000. For facilities with electronic records, the time frame is shorter. If they still don't comply after a court order, they can be fined again or even face more serious penalties, like license suspension or jail time. The penalties are set under specific procedural rules. Certified records mean records verified by the provider, and health care facilities include licensed clinics and health facilities.

This law allows certain authorities, like the Division of Medical Quality or a specific Senior Assistant Attorney General, to check hospitals for their compliance with certain rules. They can look at medical records and require hospitals to report if they are following specific regulations. Only licensed doctors can be given this inspection authority.

This law allows the board to let its executive director send a confidential letter of advice to a licensee if there's a minor complaint that doesn't involve patient care. This letter can suggest that the licensee takes some educational courses or other remedial actions to clear up the issue. If the licensee doesn't follow through in the agreed time, it's considered unprofessional conduct. The letter and complaint are kept for three years and are removed if no new complaints arise. The board is also required to make specific rules to put this procedure in place.

This law gives the board, or the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, the power to discipline a licensee by putting them on probation. This includes a few different things: making them take extra training and pass tests, having them undergo a medical check-up by doctors chosen by the board, limiting what type of medical practice they can do, or even making them do community service instead of other penalties, unless their issue is related to poor quality care.

This law requires doctors who are on probation to inform their patients about their status before the first visit post-probation order. They must disclose details such as the probation length and any practice restrictions. Patients need to be informed unless the situation is an emergency or other exceptions apply. Additionally, the board must display probation details clearly on the doctor's online profile, helping patients access information about probation causes and terms.

This law ensures that doctors must individually evaluate patients before denying treatment or medication based solely on cannabis use or a positive THC drug test. The use of medical cannabis recommended by a doctor shouldn't be treated as illegal drug use. Doctors won't face penalties for treating patients in accordance with this law. A 'qualified patient' is defined elsewhere, and 'medically significant' means cannabis use could impact treatment effectiveness, cause harm, or isn't suitable, as determined by a doctor.

The main goal for the Division of Medical Quality, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and related judges is to protect the public when they discipline medical professionals. They should aim to help rehabilitate licensees, like doctors, unless that contradicts public safety. If issues arise due to a lack of continuing education, they might restrict the professional's practice to address those issues. If there's a conflict between helping the professional and protecting the public, keeping the public safe is the top priority.

This law explains how proceedings for unprofessional conduct against a licensed professional or an applicant for a license are handled. They must follow the procedures set out in the Administrative Procedure Act. The Health Quality Enforcement Section's Senior Assistant Attorney General is responsible for prosecuting these cases. Additionally, any decisions made by a board-appointed panel are final once disciplinary action is taken.

This law sets time limits for filing accusations against licensees for disciplinary action. Generally, accusations must be filed within three years of discovering the violation or within seven years of it happening, whichever is first. However, these limits don't apply if a license was obtained fraudulently, or if the licensee's unprofessional conduct was hidden intentionally. Accusations involving sexual misconduct have a different rule: they must be filed within three years of discovery or ten years of the act. If a minor is involved, the time limit freezes until they become an adult. Accusations are also paused if important evidence is tied up in a criminal investigation.

This law allows an administrative law judge to use certain procedures when they recognize information that is widely accepted or proven in their official or court decisions.

If someone with a medical license has been convicted of certain serious crimes or required to register as a sex offender, their license will be automatically revoked. They will be notified and can request a hearing within 30 days. This rule doesn't apply to those registering due solely to minor crimes. Even if a conviction is appealed and overturned, the license revocation stops, but other disciplinary actions may still occur. A guilty plea counts as a conviction, and this specific revocation process overrides other procedures.

If a physician is convicted of certain serious crimes, their medical license will be automatically suspended and possibly revoked. This includes crimes like sexual misconduct, serious felonies, and illegal dealings with fentanyl. The suspension or revocation stays in place until the conviction is final or appeals are finished. However, the medical board can choose not to suspend or revoke if it's deemed fair. Physicians can ask for a hearing within 30 days of the suspension or revocation, but the hearing will only decide the type of punishment, not whether the crime relates to medical practice.

This law allows the board to issue a public letter of reprimand to a physician instead of pursuing formal charges. This reprimand is given after an investigation and can include mandatory training. The physician must agree or disagree to the reprimand in writing within 30 days, though the board can extend this deadline. Such reprimands are used only for minor violations and follow specific guidelines.

This law requires the board to act against any medical license holder charged with unprofessional behavior. Unprofessional conduct includes things like breaking the rules of the chapter, gross negligence, repeatedly negligent actions, incompetence, or doing dishonest or corrupt acts related to being a doctor. It also covers actions that would have led to a certificate being denied, failing to attend a board interview without reason, trying to stop patients from sharing their medical records with the board, and influencing people not to report or testify against a licensee. Essentially, they can face consequences for serious professional missteps or misconduct.

This law states that doctors won't face discipline just for using alternative or complementary medicine, like in treating Lyme Disease, if they follow certain guidelines. These include getting informed consent from the patient, performing a thorough examination, having a valid medical reason for the treatment, and informing the patient about conventional treatments and the doctor's qualifications. The treatment must not delay or discourage traditional diagnosis, nor cause serious harm. "Alternative or complementary medicine" refers to treatments not widely used but with potential benefits outweighing risks. The law acknowledges it can take years for new medical practices to become common, so new approaches should be considered, especially for diseases not well recognized in California.

If someone got their medical license in California through lying or a mistake, the Attorney General's office will take action against them. Also, if the license was given by error, the division responsible will handle it.

If a doctor is convicted of a crime that relates to their work, it's considered professional misconduct. When a doctor is facing charges for a serious crime, the prosecutor must inform the medical board right away, and the court file should note that the person's a doctor. If convicted, the court must send the conviction record to the board quickly. The board can look into the details of the crime to decide the punishment. Even if the doctor pleads no contest, it's still treated as a conviction.

If a doctor is convicted of a felony and goes to jail, their medical license is automatically suspended, even if they've appealed the conviction. The Medical Quality Division will decide how long the suspension lasts and notify the doctor. If the felony is related to being a doctor, the license stays suspended until the appeal time is up or the conviction is finalized. In some serious cases like murder or sexual crimes, the relatedness to medical duties is assumed, and no hearing is needed. Doctors can request a hearing on the penalty before the conviction is final, but if the conviction is later overturned, any penalty stops. The evidence from the conviction process can be used in hearings, and the usual rules for license suspension don't apply here.

If a doctor is imprisoned after being convicted of a misdemeanor, their medical license will automatically be paused. Once the doctor is out, their license should be reactivated within five business days after the board is informed. The board will decide what kind of notification they need. Also, the reason why the license was paused is shared on the board's website.

This law states that if someone is convicted of breaking laws related to dangerous drugs or controlled substances, it's considered unprofessional conduct. A guilty plea or verdict, or a plea of nolo contendere (no contest), counts as a conviction for this purpose. Discipline can be imposed or a professional license can be denied if the conviction is not appealed, or if on appeal, the conviction is upheld. This applies even if the person has been allowed to change their plea or clear their record under certain conditions.

If someone breaks any US or state laws about dangerous drugs or controlled substances, it's considered unprofessional behavior.

This law states that if a licensed medical professional uses drugs or alcohol in a way that is harmful to themselves, others, or their ability to practice medicine safely, it counts as unprofessional conduct. If they are convicted of a crime related to this behavior, it solidifies that judgment. Even if a guilty plea is withdrawn or cleared later, it still counts as a conviction for the purpose of enforcing this law. The medical board can discipline or deny licenses based on these convictions.

If a doctor performs a medical procedure outside a hospital in California and the patient dies or is transferred to a hospital for more than 24 hours, the doctor must report this to the appropriate authority within 15 days. This report must include details like the patient's name, the hospital involved, and what triggered the transfer. The information should keep the patient and doctor's identities confidential when submitted, though it must be stored in the patient's medical record. The board will aggregate this data and publish annual reports, and after January 1, 2002, this data goes to the Department of Health Care Access and Information. Not following this law is considered unprofessional conduct.

This law outlines how doctors in California can prescribe drugs to patients with substance use disorder. They can prescribe, dispense, or give drugs not for maintenance or detox, unless specific conditions are met. They can also provide treatment during emergencies or in certain institutions like jails. The law defines substance use disorder as involving craving and impaired control, but notes that inadequate pain management isn’t the same thing.

This law allows doctors to prescribe, dispense, or administer prescription drugs for pain treatment without facing disciplinary action as long as they follow the rules. However, doctors can still be disciplined if they are grossly negligent, fail to conduct proper exams, prescribe over the internet without compliance, or misuse prescription records. They must keep accurate records of controlled substances and exercise care when deciding if a patient needs specialized care. Hospitals may also discipline physicians if necessary, according to their own procedures.

This section requires the Division of Medical Quality to create standards aimed at ensuring that cases about managing a patient's pain are reviewed properly. They need to develop these standards by June 1, 2002, and can work with various medical organizations focused on pain management to use existing clinical guidelines in the process.

Doctors and pharmacists must have a valid reason and conduct a proper examination before prescribing or giving out dangerous drugs. This doesn't always need a face-to-face meeting; telehealth methods like questionnaires can be used if they meet the right medical standards. However, there are exceptions where this doesn't count as unprofessional behavior: if the doctor is temporarily covering for the patient's regular doctor and it's a short-term prescription, if the doctor instructs a nurse in a hospital setting after consulting and reviewing the patient's records, if they're renewing a prescription using patient records, or if they're following certain health code guidelines.

This law states that no one can prescribe or provide dangerous drugs or devices over the Internet to California residents without first having an appropriate exam and medical reason. If someone breaks this rule, they can be fined up to $25,000 per violation. The Attorney General can enforce this law and collect fines. If someone owes a fine and has tax refunds or lottery winnings, the state can use those to pay the fine. Non-residents who violate this can be reported to their licensing authority. Additionally, the Medical Board can still discipline doctors under related laws.

This law allows certain healthcare professionals—including doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, certified nurse-midwives, physician assistants, and pharmacists—to prescribe or provide hormonal birth control after the patient uses a self-screening tool to report their health information like blood pressure and medical history. This process helps identify any risk factors before the contraceptive is given.

This law states that if a doctor fails to fulfill their service obligations under agreements with the National Health Services Corps or a federal loan insurance program, the Attorney General can report them to the state board. The board will then investigate and, if the doctor is found guilty of unprofessional conduct, may take disciplinary action.

This law mandates that doctors, or those they work with, must keep biological specimens safe by locking them up when these specimens are in a public area and not under their direct watch. Starting July 1, 2000, doctors can be fined up to $1,000 if they don’t follow this rule. However, this doesn't apply to specimens that are mailed in, as long as all legal requirements are met.

This law requires the Medical Board of California to regularly review data related to the prescribing of psychotropic medications to ensure they meet proper standards. If they find any law violations or excessive prescribing, they must investigate and, if necessary, take disciplinary action. The State Department of Health Care Services must annually share treatment guidelines with medical providers. The Medical Board also has to report its findings to the Legislature and other departments starting July 2017. By January 2022, the Board must review its procedures to see if improvements are needed, and this law will automatically expire on January 1, 2027, unless extended.

If a decision finds that a licensed professional committed sexual exploitation against a patient, their license will be automatically revoked, and the decision cannot be paused or postponed by a judge.

This law requires that anyone conducting evaluations of peace officer applicants or current peace officers to assess their emotional and mental health must first meet certain qualifications outlined in another section of the Government Code. These rules have been in place since January 1, 2005.

This law, known as the Grant H. Kenyon Prostate Cancer Detection Act, mandates that doctors inform patients about available prostate cancer diagnostic procedures, like the PSA test, when certain conditions are met. These conditions include the patient being over 50, showing symptoms, being at higher risk, or if the doctor believes it's medically necessary. Failing to provide this information is considered unprofessional conduct. However, this requirement doesn't apply to doctors handling trauma cases.

This California law requires the State Department of Health Services to approve a simple and easy-to-understand written summary about prostate cancer treatments. They should check every three years to see if it needs updates with the latest information. The summary, which explains different treatment options, pros, cons, and risks, should be given to doctors, who are encouraged to share it with their patients when suitable. The Medical Board of California must also post the summary online for everyone to access and keep it updated if changes are made.

If you are a doctor responsible for a woman's yearly gynecological check-up, you must give her information in plain language about gynecological cancer symptoms and diagnosis options during the exam. You can use materials from recognized cancer organizations. If you don't do this, you could be fined, but you'll only face a fine on a second complaint. The money from these fines will support women's health outreach on gynecological cancers, but the funds can't be spent until approved by the legislature. Also, any penalties associated will follow these specific rules, not others.

If someone intentionally does not follow certain rules about getting informed consent from a patient before a sterilization procedure, it is considered unprofessional behavior.

Injecting liquid silicone into human breasts is considered unprofessional conduct for healthcare providers.

If someone breaks specific rules about cancer treatment, as outlined in a certain health code section, or ignores court orders to stop such actions, it's considered unprofessional behavior in California.

This law addresses the rules and protections for performing abortions in California. It defines unprofessional conduct related to failing to comply with the Reproductive Privacy Act. Performing an abortion without a valid medical license is generally not allowed, though exceptions exist for medical professionals who are licensed to perform certain types of abortions in the first trimester. It also states that medical boards can't discipline physicians simply for performing abortions by the law or if they were disciplined or convicted for performing abortions legally elsewhere.

If someone breaches a specific section of the Health and Safety Code about research on aborted fetal material, it is considered unprofessional behavior.

If a healthcare professional breaks the rules about improperly sending patients to extended care facilities, it's considered behaving unprofessionally.

If someone intentionally breaks certain rules that protect the rights of people who are involuntarily staying in a hospital or similar institution, it's considered unprofessional behavior. This can lead to disciplinary actions against the violator.

If someone breaks the rule about getting a patient's informed consent before treating breast cancer, it's considered unprofessional behavior.

If a healthcare professional uses laetrile or amygdalin to treat cancer, as prohibited by Section 1708.5 of the Health and Safety Code, they're considered to be acting unprofessionally.

Before performing surgery with silicone implants, doctors must give patients a written summary about the implants. This summary either comes from the State Department of Health Services or is approved by the FDA and provided by the implant manufacturer. The doctor must note that the patient received this information in their chart. Not doing so is considered unprofessional conduct, but the facility where the surgery happens isn't responsible for checking this compliance. The State Department of Health Services will create the summary if the FDA doesn't provide layperson-friendly information and update it if needed. The Medical Board of California will distribute these summaries, and doctors need to buy them to give to their patients. This rule doesn't come into effect until the summaries are published.

Physicians must give patients a written summary about collagen injections before performing relevant surgeries. This summary helps inform patients of risks and is developed if the FDA hasn’t provided written materials. Doctors need to note in the patient's chart that they provided this information. Not doing so is considered unprofessional. Facilities are not responsible for enforcing this rule. The state updates these summaries to ensure public safety, and they are distributed by the Medical Board for a fee covering production costs.

This law requires the Medical Board of California to create standards for liposuction procedures done by doctors outside of regular hospitals. These standards include guidelines for both the procedure and care afterward. If a doctor doesn't follow these rules, it's considered unprofessional behavior.

This law requires that before any elective cosmetic surgery, a patient must have a thorough physical examination and written clearance by a qualified medical professional. The exam can be performed by the surgeon doing the procedure, another doctor, a certified nurse practitioner, or a physician assistant. This examination must include a medical history and be completed within 30 days before the surgery. If the exam happens on the same day as the surgery, it's automatically considered compliant. Elective cosmetic surgery is any surgery done to improve appearance, like liposuction or facial surgery.

This law requires doctors to get written consent before using a patient's sperm or eggs for anything other than reimplantation into the patient or their spouse. The consent must state the donor's name, the type and amount of sperm or eggs, the recipient, and the purpose. It should also specify what happens to any unused material. The consent needs to be signed by both the patient and the doctor, kept in the patient's medical records, and a copy must be given to the patient and, if in a hospital, to the hospital too. Not following these rules is considered unprofessional, and repeatedly failing to get consent can result in fines between $1,000 and $5,000, paid to the person whose consent was missing. This requirement is in addition to other informed consent obligations under current law.

If someone breaks the rules about human cloning as laid out in another law, it's considered unprofessional behavior.

If someone involved in medicine or podiatry creates or signs a document that lies about facts concerning their work, that's considered unprofessional behavior.

If someone changes or falsifies a person's medical records on purpose to deceive others, it is considered unprofessional behavior. The state medical authorities can fine the offender $500 for each violation, on top of any other punishments they may face.

This law states that it is considered unprofessional behavior if someone helps, employs, or allows a person who doesn't have a medical license, or whose license is suspended or revoked, to practice medicine or treat sick people in any way that requires a license.

If a doctor doesn't keep proper and accurate records of their patient services for at least seven years after the last visit, it's considered unprofessional behavior.

This law states that if someone advertises in a false or misleading way, it's considered unprofessional behavior.

This law makes it clear that hiring people to recruit patients in unethical ways is considered professional misconduct. If someone is caught doing this for a second time, or if they're convicted of multiple related offenses at once, they'll lose their license for 10 years. This license revocation is for serious violations like certain fraudulent activities. After 10 years, they can apply to get their license back if they meet certain conditions.

This law says that if someone uses any title or letters suggesting they can practice medicine in ways they aren't licensed for, it's considered unprofessional conduct. However, doctors with a retired license can use certain titles if allowed by specific rules.

If someone had a doctor’s certificate from the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and an MD degree from an in-state medical school before September 30, 1962, they can choose to use 'M.D.' instead of 'D.O.' after getting approval from the Medical Board of California. They must inform both boards in writing about their choice. Using 'D.O.' after choosing 'M.D.' would be considered inappropriate professional behavior.

This law states that unless someone has earned a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) degree from an approved osteopathic medical school as required by this chapter, it is considered unprofessional conduct for them to use the title or suffix 'D.O.'

This law states that only individuals who have earned a degree in podiatric medicine and have completed all necessary courses can use the title or suffix 'D.P.M.' If someone uses 'D.P.M.' without meeting these requirements, it is considered unprofessional behavior.

If someone is using the title 'doctor' or 'Dr.' in California, they must clearly indicate what kind of certificate they have, unless it's a physician’s or surgeon’s certificate. Not doing so is considered unprofessional behavior.

This law states that doctors in California are prohibited from practicing medicine if they are so impaired by drugs or alcohol that it affects their ability to safely care for patients. If they violate this rule, it's considered unprofessional conduct and can be penalized as a misdemeanor.

This law states that doctors or medical students can't perform a pelvic exam on a woman who is unconscious unless she has given her permission beforehand, it is necessary for the surgery or exam she's having, or it's needed to diagnose her condition while she's unconscious.

This law states that a hospital with five or more doctors on staff must have specific rules in place to avoid being considered unprofessional. These rules include organizing doctors into a formal medical staff with officers and bylaws, ensuring membership is only for competent and ethical medical professionals, and prohibiting profit-sharing from fees. The medical staff must govern themselves, review their work regularly, and maintain accurate patient records.

This law outlines the self-governance rights of a hospital's medical staff. They can set criteria and standards for membership and privileges, enforce these standards, and manage quality assurance and other activities. Medical staff can also select and remove officers, assess and use funds, and hire independent legal counsel. They can create and amend bylaws with hospital board approval, which should not be withheld without reason. If a dispute arises between the medical staff and hospital board, both parties must try to resolve it first. If not resolved, a court may intervene. This law emphasizes the medical staff's autonomy while ensuring some oversight from the hospital board.

This law covers the rights of medical staff to govern themselves at hospitals. It includes setting membership criteria, managing quality assurance, and choosing medical staff officers. They can also charge dues and use them for staff purposes. Medical staff can hire independent lawyers, with certain approvals needed for University of California staff. The staff can create bylaws subject to hospital board approval, which shouldn't be unfairly withheld. Any disputes should be resolved through good faith meetings and, if unresolved, can be taken to court for a legal order to ensure the staff's rights and duties are upheld.

This law describes what makes medical practice in small hospitals unprofessional if certain rules are not in place. It states that hospitals with fewer than five doctors must have rules set by the board of directors. These rules must ensure that only qualified and ethical professionals are on the medical staff, and they can't share profits from fees. Additionally, the hospital must keep proper and complete medical records for all patients.

This law states that a doctor or a group of doctors, including podiatrists or their corporations, cannot take any portion of the fees an acupuncturist charges or get any perks for referring patients to an acupuncturist. A doctor is only allowed to hire one acupuncturist, and a group of doctors or a medical corporation can only hire one acupuncturist per 20 doctors in the group or corporation.

If you have a professional license and use a fake or other name for your practice in public without getting the proper permit, that's considered unprofessional. However, there are exceptions: if you work for a business with a permit, for a licensed clinic, in accredited surgery settings, or at a medical school, you're okay to use the names they permit.

If someone with a professional license breaks, tries to break, helps someone else break, or plans to break certain corporation-related rules or laws, that counts as bad behavior or misconduct. This includes laws in a specific Act that relates to professional corporations and any rules made under those laws.

This law makes it unprofessional conduct to buy, sell, trade, or offer to buy or sell any medical or podiatric degree, or any related diploma or certificate. It also applies to altering or creating fake credentials with fraudulent intent. Trying or planning to do these actions is also considered unprofessional conduct.

If someone pretends to be another person or takes an exam on someone else's behalf for a certification, it is considered unprofessional behavior.

This law states that if a licensed medical or podiatry professional pretends to be someone else or lets someone else use their certification to practice, it's considered bad behavior or unprofessional conduct.

This section clarifies that any actions involving fraud related to medical records and educational credentials like degrees or diplomas are governed by a different set of rules, specifically those starting at a different section of the law. If an act is considered a crime under those rules, those rules take precedence over what is described in this article.

This law focuses on the use of telehealth—a way to provide healthcare remotely using technology. It defines key terms like 'telehealth', 'asynchronous store and forward', and 'synchronous interaction'. Before using telehealth, healthcare providers must get the patient's consent and document it. Patients can still choose in-person care if they wish, and all confidentiality rules still apply. Providers must follow the same professional standards as they would for in-person care. The law allows hospitals to grant telehealth privileges and verify credentials based on recommendations from distant-site hospitals. This doesn't change what healthcare providers can do legally or in what settings they can offer services.

This law states it's considered unprofessional behavior for any medical professional, who isn't a member or an authorized official of their respective board, to sign or issue certificates covered by their chapter's regulations. This includes doctors of podiatric medicine and their specific board.

This law states that a medical professional in California can be required to take a competency test if there's a good reason to think they might not be practicing safely. Reasons could include serious mistakes or patterns of poor care. The test results can be used in disciplinary actions. If there's a referral, the case is formally presented and the medical professional gets a chance to defend themselves. A panel or judge decides if the test is needed. If the professional doesn't take the test, it could be considered unprofessional behavior. "Community standards" refers to the statewide expectations for medical practice.

This law outlines how professional competency exams are conducted for physicians. These exams are oral, tested by three physician examiners, and recorded. Failing the exam happens if two out of the three testers give failing grades. If a physician fails, they can request a hearing to contest the result within 45 days, potentially leading to a second exam if the hearing finds unfairness or bias in the testing process. If a retake isn't granted and a physician still doesn’t pass, the board can initiate disciplinary action. Passing these exams generally proves a doctor's competence.

This section explains what happens when a physician takes a competency exam. If they pass the exam, they won't face charges of incompetence based on the original reasons for the test. If there isn't enough evidence for charges, all related records are kept confidential and can't be used in legal actions. If no more hearings or actions occur for five years, all related records have to be destroyed.

If a doctor is disciplined, has their medical license revoked or limited by another state or a federal agency for reasons that would also be grounds for discipline in California, this can be used as a reason to also discipline them for unprofessional conduct in California.

If a doctor's license to practice is suspended, they can't practice medicine during that time. Once the suspension ends, their license will automatically be reinstated unless they were caught practicing while suspended. If they did, their license will be permanently revoked.

If your professional certificate in California has been surrendered, revoked, or suspended due to disciplinary issues, you can ask the relevant board to reinstate it or change the penalties. You need to wait for a certain time before applying: five years for serious issues, two years for ending probation early, and one year for changes related to health issues. Your request must include recommendations from professionals familiar with your case. An administrative law judge or board panel evaluates your steps toward rehabilitation and your professional reputation. If your certificate was revoked for sexual misconduct or similar serious offenses, it cannot be reinstated. Additionally, the board won’t consider requests if you are under criminal sentence or have pending charges.

This law allows a board to set a fee when someone asks to have their professional license reinstated or a penalty changed. The fee must only cover the board's actual costs of handling the request. The board will also create rules following specific government procedures to put this law into action.

If a doctor licensed in a state outside California or by the federal government has their license suspended or revoked, it automatically suspends their California medical certificate. This suspension can be challenged in a hearing, conducted within 90 days, to discuss penalties. If the out-of-state decision is overturned or shown not to be valid grounds for California discipline, the suspension can be revoked. However, this doesn't apply to doctors mainly practicing in California, or whose license issues relate to non-medical staff matters at federal hospitals. The section also doesn't apply if the suspension is based solely on discipline from another state.

If someone is doing or about to do something illegal under this chapter, the superior court can step in and stop them if the board or at least ten doctors or podiatrists request it. They do this through an injunction, which is a court order to halt the activity. The process for getting this order follows certain rules outlined in the California Code of Civil Procedure.

If California's Division of Medical Quality thinks a doctor might harm public health, safety, or welfare, they can try to stop the doctor from practicing through a legal order called an injunction.

Every year by October 1, the board must report to the Legislature on several activities. They need to detail how many restraining orders and suspensions they sought against license holders, and in what situations. They also have to list actions taken for bad behavior, especially with mishandling drugs or pain prescriptions. Additionally, they must provide data on consumer complaints, legal cases, and outcomes. Information on investigations, settlements over $30,000 grouped by medical specialty, and disciplinary actions related to peer reviews must also be included. This helps the Legislature track the board's performance and actions taken with respect to licensees and medical practice compliance.

This section states that if someone breaks the rules of this article, they're committing a misdemeanor, whether they have a license or not. Also, specific penalties apply if they violate Section 2273, following the guidelines in Section 2315(b).

This law explains the penalties for misdemeanors and specific violations under a certain chapter. If someone is found guilty of a misdemeanor, they may face a fine between $200 and $1,200, up to 180 days in jail, or both. Violating Section 2273 is more serious. First-time violators can be jailed for up to a year. If they break it again, they could face longer jail terms or a fine up to $10,000, or both.

If a doctor helps the board with their expert opinion and then faces any disciplinary action by their specialty board because of this work, the Attorney General's Office will defend the doctor in the disciplinary case as long as the board agrees.

This law states that if someone is hired or volunteers to give testimony or opinions for the Medical Board of California or the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, and they face a lawsuit for doing so, the board has to provide legal defense for them. The board also covers any monetary judgments against this person unless it's punitive damages. If the person is found liable for punitive damages, they must repay the board for the cost of their legal defense. The Attorney General will handle such cases.

This law protects people who report a medical professional's unprofessional conduct or impairment issues to certain boards or the Department of Justice from being sued for damages in a civil lawsuit. This could involve reports about drug or alcohol abuse, or mental illness. The law ensures that these individuals won't face legal consequences for their reports, encouraging transparency and accountability. However, this protection doesn't change any existing absolute legal privileges they may have under another law.

The board aims to improve how quickly it handles disciplinary cases. Ideally, it should take no more than six months to finish investigating most complaints. However, if a case involves complicated medical, fraud, business, or financial issues, it may take up to a year to investigate.