California law requires doctors to disclose serious misconduct probation to patients

A new California law, the first of its kind in the United States, requires doctors to tell new patients if the state medical board has placed them on probation for activity involving patient harm.

Activities that must be reported under the Patient’s Right to Know Act include sexual misconduct, drug misuse that has harmed or could harm patients, a criminal conviction involving harm to patients, and inappropriate prescribing.

Doctors already had to notify employers …