Consumers
Protecting health care consumers through the proper licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons and certain allied health care professionals and through the vigorous, objective enforcement of the Medical Practice Act.
Impairment
Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 2239 states that the use or prescribing for or administering to himself or herself, of any controlled substance, or the use of any of the dangerous drugs specified in Section 4022, or of alcoholic beverages, to the extent, or in such a manner as to be dangerous or injurious to the licensee, or to any other person or to the public, or to the extent that such use impairs the ability of the licensee to practice medicine safely or more than one misdemeanor or felony involving the use, consumption, or self-administration of any of the substances referred to in this section, or any combination thereof, constitutes unprofessional conduct. The record of the conviction is conclusive evidence of such unprofessional conduct.
BPC Code section 2280 prohibits a physician from practicing medicine while under the influence of any narcotic drug or alcohol to such an extent as to impair their ability to conduct the practice of medicine safely to the public and their patients. Violation of this section constitutes unprofessional conduct and is a misdemeanor.