(a) The board and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine shall investigate and may take disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, revocation or suspension of licenses, against physicians and surgeons and all others licensed or regulated by the board, or by the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, whichever is applicable, who, except for good cause, knowingly fail to protect patients by failing to follow infection control guidelines of the applicable board, thereby risking transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases from the physician and surgeon or other health care provider licensed or regulated by the applicable board to patients, from patients, and from patient to physician and surgeon or other health care provider regulated by the applicable board. In so doing, the boards shall consider referencing the standards, regulations, and guidelines of the State Department of Public Health developed pursuant to Section 1250.11 of the Health and Safety Code and the standards, guidelines, and regulations pursuant to the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 (Part 1 (commencing with Section 6300) of Division 5 of the Labor Code) for preventing the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and other blood-borne pathogens in health care settings. As necessary, the board and the California Board of Podiatric Medicine shall consult with the Dental Board of California, the Board of Registered Nursing, and the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians of the State of California to encourage appropriate consistency in the implementation of this section.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to an organ transplant performed within the standard of care and in compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 1644.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c) The board shall seek to ensure that licentiates and others regulated by the board are informed of the responsibility of licentiates to follow infection control guidelines and of the most recent scientifically recognized safeguards for minimizing the transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 561, Sec. 2. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2018.)