Relating to the board of medicine, including membership of the board and licensee discipline

This bill relates to the board of medicine (board). The bill expands the number of public members on the board from three to five and requires that three of those members demonstrate a history of assertive patient safety advocacy. During an investigation of a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, the bill requires the board to allow the person who submitted the complaint under investigation, if any, to respond to evidence and arguments made by the licensee under investigation. The bill also requires the board to communicate its findings and decisions, and the reasons therefor, to the person who submitted the complaint under investigation, if any. The bill requires the board to post on the internet site of the board all substantiated findings of investigated complaints against a licensee within days of the findings being served on the licensee and to post in detail all settlements and awards against a licensee within days of the settlement or imposition of the award. The board shall also include on the internet site of the board the reason why a license is labeled as monitored, on probation, suspended, restricted, or revoked, and to post prominently links to information about public complaints and actions against licensees. The bill requires the board to adopt rules that are substantially similar to the most recent edition of the code of medical ethics of the American medical association.