California physicians must verbally tell patients if they are on probation for wrongdoing

A new law went into effect July 1 requiring California physicians and other healthcare professionals to inform patients in person if they are put on probation for serious misconduct, according to NBC 7.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed the Patient Right to Know Act on Sept. 19, 2018. Examples of actions warranting probation include sexual misconduct with a patient or drug abuse that harmed a patient.

Patients may either talk with their provider about the probation or find a new provider. Patients also sign a form to indicate they were informed of their provider's probation, and providers must keep the forms on file to present to the California Medical Board in the case of an inspection.