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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 59
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A8414B
- Amended on third reading 6069b
- Restored to third reading
- Substitution reconsidered
- Substituted by A8414A
- Amended on third reading 6069a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.238
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires notification that all physician information on the department of health's website may not be all-inclusive or up-to-date
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6069B
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to notification that all physician information on the department of health's website may not be all-inclusive or up-to-date
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the users of the department of health physician profiles website are able to easily view disclaimers stating that the information on the site is not guaranteed to be up-to-date or accurate. Further, it requires the department of health to include a link to the website maintained by the unified court system so that users can search potential physicians on that site as well.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends subdivision 15 of section 2595-a of the public health law by adding subdivision (a) requiring the department of health Ln include in their standard disclaimer a statement encouraging users of the physician profile website to utilize multiple sources when researching a physician. Further, it adds a statement indicating that the information provided on the website may not be accurate or up-to-date. The complete disclaimer shall be visible on each page of the physician profile. Section one also adds subdivision (b), requiring the department to include a link to the unified court system website where court records are maintained.
Section two defines the effective date as sixty days following the enactment date.
Justification
The physician profile website maintained by the department of health allows users to research the qualifications of physicians in order to select one that meets their needs. Currently, the disclaimer required by statute on the physician profile is weakly-worded and can only be viewed by clicking on a "disclaimer" link.
This bill was written in response to a young woman who used the physician profile website to select a surgeon to perform a complicated lapband surgery. Tragically, the young woman died from complications shortly after the surgery. After her death, it was discovered that the information provided on the physician profile was incomplete.
The bill strengthens the language of the physician profile disclaimer to include a statement that the information on the website may not be accurate, complete, or up-to-date. It also adds language encouraging users to utilize various sources when researching a physician. The bill requires that the full text of the disclaimer be visible on each page of the physician profile. Finally, the bill requires that the department maintain a link to the online unified court system database where users can research any cases of medical malpractice involving the physician. These changes will ensure that users are aware of the risks of basing
their physician selection decision solely on the information provided in the physician profile maintained by the department of health.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.