California backs off ‘medical misinformation’ law
California’s senate is expected to pass a bill Thursday repealing a law aimed at punishing doctors for “medical misinformation.”
AB 2098 drew controversy when it was introduced last year because it allowed the California Medical Board (CMB) to punish healthcare professionals for dispensing medical advice unapproved by public health authorities. The legislation was aimed at physicians who recommend safe and effective early COVID-19 treatments like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, though it was not limited to those cases.
After widespread backlash and legal challenges — including complaints from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) — a federal judge blocked enforcement of the law in January.
Now SB 815 is about to repeal the law completely, signaling that California totalitarians may need to find other ways to suppress medical professionals.
“This bill would repeal the above-described provisions that provide that it shall constitute unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to disseminate misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19, as provided,” SB 815 states.
The bill includes several other amendments related to the California Medical Board, such as a requirement that the board automatically suspend or revoke a physician’s license upon conviction of a felony.
Under the leadership of attorney Kristina Lawson, the California Medical Board has come under fire several times for its soft approach to physicians found guilty of sexual misconduct.
According to a 2021 Los Angeles Times report, “10 of the 17 physicians who lost their licenses for sexual misconduct and petitioned for reinstatement since 2013 succeeded, board data show — a rate of 59%.”
Dr. Esmail Nadjmabadi, for example, was a California doctor who sexually abused six patients, one of whom he also reported to immigration officials for being an illegal alien. Nadjmabadi eventually surrendered his medical license, but the California Medical Board later reinstated him as a physician without input from his patients.
Dr. Zachary Cosgrove is another California doctor who sexually abused three patients and was addicted to crystal meth. After they reported him, Cosgrove threw furniture at one, kicked and punched another, and verbally abused the third. The Medical Board has still not revoked Cosgrove’s license and he is still practicing medicine.
Dr. Anshul Gandhi, a physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, was found guilty of sexual battery against four women. The California Medical Board did not suspend Gandhi’s medical license.
Health professionals who dissent on COVID-19, however, are not as fortunate.
