California Medical Association
SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 1419 sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA) to provide physicians the opportunity to respect patient privacy and wishes when releasing health Information, passed the California State Senate on a vote of 31 to 9.
SB 1419 makes several important updates to California law to protect the physician-patient relationship, including:
- Allowing physicians time to interpret potentially life-changing test results before releasing them to the patient electronically;
- providing additional protections in law for very sensitive data, such as teen mental health and reproductive data; and
- clarifying that clinical notes are considered part of the patient medical record.
By making these changes in law, physicians can work with their patients on how best to deliver sensitive news.
“Giving patients access to their own health information is very important because it allows them to be partners in their care. SB 1419 will give patients the support they need when learning of sensitive and potentially life-changing information about their health and well-being,” said CMA President Robert E. Wailes, M.D.