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News Release — August 29, 2007
MEDICAL BOARD OF CALIFORNIA
August 29, 2007
Medical Board of California to sponsor summit
on physician diversion
SACRAMENTO—Following its unanimous vote on July 26, 2007 to abolish its current Diversion Program for physicians with substance-abuse problems, the Medical Board of California will sponsor a summit early in 2008 to discuss in a comprehensive manner the complex issues involved and how the public can best be protected. At present, the program is scheduled by law to be sunsetted on June 30, 2008.
At the upcoming summit, the board will invite the input of interested parties, including the general public, the California Medical Association, the California Society of Addiction Medicine, the California Psychiatric Association, the Center for Public Interest Law, and patient advocacy groups. It will re-examine whether - and under what conditions - confidential "diversion" from discipline is possible within a public protection mandate, and whether such a program should be operated by a state agency or a private entity. It also will consider the possibility that there be a statewide program for all healthcare professionals and possibly all professionals within our state that administers policies directed at this issue.
For further information, please see the article linked on the home page of the board's Web site (www.mbc.ca.gov) under "What's New" entitled, "Diversion Program Information."
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The mission of the Medical Board is to protect healthcare consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied healthcare professions and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act.
If you have a question or complaint about the healthcare you are receiving, the board encourages you to visit its Web site at www.mbc.ca.gov or for questions call the Consumer Information Line at (916) 263-2382, or with complaints call (800) 633-2322.
For up-to-date information on board activities, please join our "Subscribers' List" at www.mbc.ca.gov/subscribers.htm.
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