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The Governor signed this bill which passed unanimously - thank you CA members and all others for your efforts.
October 29, 2004
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed the Medical Freedom bill into law. The legislature had passed Senate bill 1691 at the end of August, clearing the way for the Governor's approval or veto. The new law adds non-conventional/alternative medical treatment practice to the legal standard and scope of practice of licensed physicians in California. Previously, physicians could have been disciplined by the State Board of Medicine, or lost their license to practice solely on the basis of a patient recommended or administered treatment (s) being non-conventional. With the new law, as long as physicians do "good faith prior exams", make an appropriate diagnosis's, do appropriate follow-ups as indicated, and obtain a patient's informed consent, they can provide non-conventional/alternative medical treatment options. However, the new law does not apply to alternative treatments for cancer.
The Senate Bill 1691 final legislative text can be read in .pdf format, readable with Adobe Reader, by clicking here.
On June 22, the Businesses and Professions Committee of the California Assembly voted out SB 1691, a bill that would grant to physicians and their patients greater access to complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments.
The legislation would exempt physicians from State Medical Board disciplinary actions when providing or advising a patient on CAM medical therapies. Alternative or complementary medicine is defined as healthcare methods of diagnosis, treatment, or healing that are not generally used but that provide a reasonable potential for therapeutic gain in a patient's medical condition that is not outweighed by the risk of the healthcare method. If enacted, the bill would give people,in consultation with their doctor,access to more medical therapies, without the doctor running the risk of losing their license to practice medicine in the State.
The NHF supports this health freedom access legislation and asks that if you are a resident of California, you contact your State Representative and Senator in support of its passage by the California legislature.
