(a) Upon a diagnosis of breast cancer, the physician and surgeon, meaning the primary provider who initially referred the patient for the screening or biopsy or, if different, the provider who has made the diagnosis of breast cancer and initially consulted with the patient about treatment, shall give the patient the written summary described in subdivision (c) and required by this section and shall note on the patient’s chart that he or she has given the patient the written summary. The physician and surgeon may choose to provide the summary prior to the performance of a screening or biopsy for breast cancer upon a patient’s request or at the discretion of the physician and surgeon in appropriate cases, including, but not limited to, instances when a patient has demonstrated risk factors, has a family history of breast cancer, or is otherwise susceptible.
(b) The failure of a physician and surgeon to inform a patient, by means of a standardized written summary developed by the department on the recommendation of the Cancer Advisory Council in accordance with subdivision (c), in layperson’s language and in a language understood by the patient, of alternative efficacious methods of treatment that may be medically viable, including surgical, radiological, or chemotherapeutic treatments or combinations thereof, when the patient is being treated for any form of breast cancer, constitutes unprofessional conduct within the meaning of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code.
(c) (1) A standardized written summary in layperson’s language and in a language understood by the patient shall be developed by the department with the recommendations of the Cancer Advisory Council, and shall be printed and made available by the Medical Board of California to physicians and surgeons, for the purposes of informing the patient of the advantages, disadvantages, risks, and descriptions of the procedures with regard to medically viable and efficacious alternative methods of treatment for breast cancer as required by subdivision (a).
(2) Commencing no later than January 1, 1995, and every three years thereafter, the department shall review the written summary and shall revise the written summary if the department determines that new or revised information should be included in the written summary, and shall provide a copy of the revised summary to the Medical Board of California.
(3) At the next revision of the standardized written summary required by this section, the department shall incorporate all of the following additional information:
(A) Information regarding methods of treatment for breast cancer that are in the investigational or clinical trial stage and are recognized for treatment by the Physician’s Data Query of the National Cancer Institute.
(B) Available reference numbers, including, but not limited to, the “800” telephone numbers for the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society, in order for breast cancer patients to obtain the most recent information.
(C) A discussion of breast reconstruction surgery, including, but not limited to, problems, benefits, and alternatives.
(D) Statistics on the incidence of breast cancer.
(d) The Medical Board of California shall establish a distribution system for the breast cancer treatment alternatives written summary, and shall provide a link to its Internet Web site that may be accessed by consumers interested in viewing and obtaining a copy of the summary.
(e) The department and the Medical Board of California shall each post the summary on its Internet Web site.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 485, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2007.)