A new bill in California targets physicians with the loss of their licenses if they disseminate information that contradicts “scientific consensus” about the coronavirus and COVID vaccines.
The bill, AB 2098, designates the spread of so-called “misinformation and disinformation” by a physician or surgeon to be “unprofessional conduct” and outlines disciplinary actions to be taken by the state’s medical board.
Among the list of what constitutes “disinformation,” the bill states that physicians cannot give information that causes a person to distrust vaccine safety/efficacy, and statistics about COVID-19 related deaths.
(a) It shall constitute unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon to disseminate or promote misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19, including false or misleading information regarding the nature and risks of the virus, its prevention and treatment; and the development, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.