Important Health Freedom Bill Approved

By California Assembly Committee

By Lee Bechtel
National NHF Advocate

June 2004

 

The Governor signed this bill which passed

unanimously - thank you CA members

and all others for your efforts.

 

Update

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.