Healthcare

San Diego Doctor Charged with Murder In Patient’s Death Shows Failure Of California’s Doctor Discipline, Patient Disclosure Laws

April 11, 2023  ·  Carmen Balber

San Diego, CA — Patients in California are exposed to harm by dangerous doctors because California law does not quickly discipline or require them to disclose...

Patients’ call for Medical Board reform is front-and-center in Sacramento

March 29, 2023  ·  Carmen Balber

Two years ago, and four years before that, and at every legislative review of the Medical Board of California in recent memory, Californians have turned...

Initial Report of Medical Board Enforcement Monitor Confirms Investigation Delays and Failure to Discipline Doctors 

March 16, 2023  ·  Carmen Balber

Initial findings of the Medical Board Enforcement Monitor, released this week, confirm that the Medical Board’s investigations of doctors are hamstrung by funding shortfalls and that prosecutions are undermined by a crippling division between investigators and attorneys housed in different agencies.

Advocates from Across the State Testify in Pursuit of Medical Board Reform

February 21, 2023  ·  Michele Monserratt-Ramos

At its Quarterly Board meeting last week, multiple members of the state board that regulates doctors for the first time seriously acknowledged activists’ call for...

Consumer Watchdog and Its Volunteer Team of Advocates Fight for Babies’ Rights at the Osteopathic Medical Board

January 26, 2023  ·  Michele Monserratt-Ramos

Consumer Watchdog and a volunteer team of advocates attended and participated in last week’s Osteopathic Medical Board Quarterly meeting to testify on issues with the...

Physician Licensing Boards Face Executive Director Leadership Changes at Year End

December 27, 2022  ·  Michele Monserratt-Ramos

The Executive Director of the Medical Board of California William Prasifka announced his resignation last week stating that his last day will be December 30,...

Consumer Watchdog and Its Volunteer Team of Advocates Join Forces at First in Person Medical Board of California Meeting

December 27, 2022  ·  Michele Monserratt-Ramos

The Medical Board of California brought their first in-person Quarterly Board meeting, since the pandemic, to Los Angeles this month.  Consumer Watchdog and our team...

Victims of Medical Harm Who Have Been Misled and Silenced Call on CA Medical Board to Endorse Patient Bill of Rights to Overhaul Physician Discipline

December 16, 2022  ·  Carmen Balber

Los Angeles, CA— Patient advocates today will call on the Medical Board of California to reform a physician oversight process that shuts out patients, prioritizes secrecy and ultimately fails to adequately protect patients from doctors who cause harm.

Lift The Cap: How Fairly Compensating Injured Patients Will Save Taxpayer Dollars

May 31, 2022  ·  Greer Levin

NTRODUCTION Medi-Cal has the right to be reimbursed for the cost of health care that a patient needs as a result of medical negligence. That reimbursement occurs after the successful resolution of a medical malpractice case. However, California’s outdated cap on…

Governor Newsom Signs Historic Legislation to Restore Patient Access to Justice, Update 47-Year-Old Medical Malpractice Damage Cap

May 23, 2022  ·  Carmen Balber

Sacramento, CA – Consumer Watchdog and California families harmed by medical negligence applauded Governor Newsom’s historic signature today on legislation to update California’s 47-year-old medical malpractice damage cap and restore injured patients’ access to justice.

Consumer Watchdog, Patients Celebrate Historic Passage of Bill to Update Malpractice Cap After 47 Years, Forestall Initiative Battle in November

May 12, 2022  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog and California families harmed by medical negligence applauded today’s historic 60-0 Assembly vote to update California’s 47-year-old medical malpractice damage cap and restore injured patients’ access to justice.

Kern County Board of Supervisors Proclaims May 2022 as Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month on Mexican Mother’s Day

May 9, 2022  ·  Michele Monserratt-Ramos

Kern County, CA – Supervisor Leticia Perez and the Kern County Board of Supervisors will proclaim May 2022 to be Latina Maternal Health Awareness Month at...