Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to license and regulate health facilities. Existing law generally makes a violation of those provisions a crime.
Existing law requires a licensed health facility that provides specified prenatal screening ultrasound to require that the ultrasound be performed by a sonographer that is nationally certified, as specified.
This bill would require a licensed health facility that offers a sensitive examination to provide notice to patients that a medical chaperone will be provided to observe the sensitive examination. The bill would require the notice to include a hard copy and electronic transmission provided to the patient or their legal guardian, as specified. The bill would provide that a patient reserves the right to decline the inclusion of a medical chaperone during the sensitive examination. The bill would require a health facility to provide clinical and nonclinical hospital staff with medical chaperone training, as specified, and prepare a medical chaperone competency report outlining chaperone assignment and procedure. The bill would define various terms for purposes of these provisions, including that sensitive examination means specified examinations, treatments, or procedures that require the use of an ultrasound performed by a sonographer.
By creating new requirements for health facilities, the violation of which would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.