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A07991 Summary:

BILL NOA07991A
 
SAME ASSAME AS S06678-A
 
SPONSORSimotas
 
COSPNSRQuart, Sayegh, Mosley, Morinello, Ashby, Rosenthal L, Jaffee, Gottfried, Hevesi, Simon, Galef, Cruz, Niou, Barron
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd §230, Pub Health L
 
Requires the office of professional medical conduct to post on its website information on patients' reporting rights regarding professional misconduct involving sexual harassment and assault; requires physicians' practice settings to post signage directing their patients to the office of professional medical conduct's website for information about their rights and how to report professional misconduct.
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A07991 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A7991A
 
SPONSOR: Simotas
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to posting informa- tion on patients' reporting rights regarding professional misconduct involving sexual harassment and assault   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To give patients greater access to information on how to report sexual misconduct committed by doctors to the Office of Professional Medical Conduct.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends subdivision 11 of section 230 of the public health law to add a new paragraph (h) requiring the Office of Profession al Medical Conduct to post on its website information on patients' rights and reporting options regarding professional misconduct involving sexual harassment and sexual assault, and requiring all doctor's offices to conspicuously post signage directing patients to the website. Section 2 provides the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: Patients place a great deal of trust in their doctors, and when doctors abuse that trust and subject them to sexual violence it can be an incredibly shocking and traumatizing experience. Marissa Hoechstetter, a survivor who was sexually assaulted by her doctor during her pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care, recently testified to the legislature on how difficult it is for patients who have experienced these violations to navigate the reporting system. The website for the Office of Profes- sional Medical Conduct offers no guidance on these issues and never explicitly mentions their role in receiving complaints of sexual harass- ment and assault by medical professionals. Because often the first step a victim feels safe in taking is to privately look online for informa- tion, it is essential this website is updated to provide clear, direct information about their rights and reporting options. This legislation will help ensure patients who have experienced sexual abuse in medical settings can easily access the information they need on how to report to the Office of Professional Medical Conduct.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: None.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
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