SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Legal action has been taken against Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Medical Board of California by doctors trying to block a new law.
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The law, Assembly Bill 2098, was signed by Newsom last month in an effort to prevent COVID-19 misinformation. Essentially, California doctors sharing misinformation about COVID-19 would be found to be doing unprofessional conduct.
They could face penalties if found doing so, have their licenses suspended or even lose their licenses altogether.
But according to those concerned, this law opens the door for legal action against doctors.
"People could do it anonymously, they could do it as many times as they want, they could literally destroy your practice just with complaints," said Dr. Drew Pinsky, an addiction specialist and podcast host.
The doctors fighting back against the law are claiming it violates free speech.
And it's not just doctors. The ACLU of Northern California asked the courts to put a hold on it.
The main argument is that the wording of the law is too vague, particularly as the standard of care is always changing.
"You have to be your own best advocate and you want your doctor to be your best advocate in things you don’t know about," said Paul Seegert, with the healthcare benefits consulting firm, PCS Advisers.
"This experience with COVID-19 is a great example of that, and I think we'll all have a lot more confidence if we feel like our doctors have the freedom to do what they think is best," he said.
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