California legislators are considering a bill to strip the California Medical Board of its powers to investigate problem physicians. The board has been criticized for failing to properly discipline doctors who are accused of harming patients, including recklessly prescribing painkillers.
The bill, co-authored by Sen. Curren Price (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Richard Gordon (D-Menlo Park) would hand the power to investigate and discipline doctors to the California attorney general, leaving the board to deal mostly with licensing doctors. Medical board President Sharon Levine has not yet commented on the legislation.
Guests:
Senator Curren D. Price, Jr., sponsored legislation to have the Medical Board’s powers removed; Senator Price represents the 26th district, which covers much of Los Angeles.
Henry Fenton, founding partner at the healthcare law firm Fenton Nelson LLC