New California Law Requires Hospitals, Clinics and Other Health Care Entities to Report Patient Allegations of Sexual Abuse or Misconduct to State Licensing Agencies

As of January 1, 2020, when a patient (or their representative) submits a written allegation of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct to a health care entity, that entity must report the allegation to the appropriate state licensing agency (e.g., the Medical Board of California) within 15 days of receipt. (SB 425, codified at Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code Section 805.8) After making its way through the state legislature with little to no opposition from state lawmakers, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed this bill into law on October 12. The purpose of the bill was to not only accelerate the process in which state licensing boards receive notification about these serious allegations, but also to expand the types of entities that must report these events.

Source: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new-california-law-requires-hospitals-66303/