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California: doctors could lose their licenses for spreading unofficial information about Covid vaccines

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law, which includes stiff penalties for physicians who do not conform to the "contemporary scientific consensus."

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Published by
Juan Carlos Téllez

California physicians face stiff penalties if they do not conform to the official version about Covid-19 and its vaccines. A new law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom calls for disciplinary action against physicians who spread unapproved pandemic information.

Among these measures, the law includes that physicians who spread "Covid-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation risk losing their medical license."

Assembly Bill No. 2098 by VozMedia on Scribd

California State Assembly Bill 2098, sponsored by Democrat Representative Evan Low, defines alleged "misinformation" as "false information which contradicts the contemporary scientific consensus." The law qualifies the spread of misinformation or disinformation about Covid as "unprofessional conduct," a term used to proceed, when appropriate, with the withdrawal of a medical license.

It shall constitute unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to disseminate misinformation or disinformation related to covid-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of covid-19 vaccines.

The bill contemplates punishing those physicians who, in the Medical Board of California's opinion, contradict this so-called "contemporary consensus" on Covid.

In a letter, California Governor Gavin Newsom gave his support for the bill because in his view "it is narrowly tailored to apply only to those egregious instances in which a licensee is acting with malicious intent or clearly deviating from the required standard of care." However, Newsom himself acknowledged his concern about the effect this law could have on other future laws:

I am concerned about the chilling effect other potential laws may have on physicians and surgeons who need to be able to effectively talk to their patients about the risks and benefits of treatments for a disease that appeared in just the last few years. However, I am confident that discussing emerging ideas or treatments including the subsequent risks and benefits does not constitute misinformation or disinformation under this bill's criteria.

The bill faced opposition from numerous physician groups who are concerned about "censorship." Californians for Good Governance felt that the law will only help increase distrust of medical institutions.

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