BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                  AB 2968
                                                                  Page  1


          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 2968 (Carter)
          As Amended August 5, 2008
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |70-1 |(May 19, 2008)  |SENATE: |37-1 |(August 13,    |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2008)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:    B. & P.  

           SUMMARY  :  Enacts the Donda West Law, which would prohibit  
          elective cosmetic surgery on a patient unless, prior to surgery,  
          the patient has received a physical examination and clearance,  
          as specified.  

           The Senate amendments  : 

          1)Permit a certified nurse practitioner and licensed physician  
            assistant to perform a physical examination and give clearance  
            for cosmetic surgery, in accordance with their specified scope  
            of practice, unless stated otherwise in standardized  
            procedures and limited by protocols or a delegation agreement,  
            as specified. 

          2)Make various technical and clarifying amendments.

           EXISTING LAW  : 


          1)Establishes the Medical Board of California (MBC) under the  
            Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), which licenses  
            physicians and surgeons and regulates their practice.



          2)Requires specified disclosures to patients undergoing  
            procedures involving collagen injections, defined as any  
            substance derived from, or combined with, animal protein. 



          3)Requires MBC to adopt extraction and postoperative care  
            standards in regard to body liposuction procedures performed  
            by a physician and surgeon outside of a general acute care  
            hospital, and makes a violation of these provisions a  
            misdemeanor.




                                                                  AB 2968
                                                                  Page  2



           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill was substantially similar  
          to the version passed by the Senate.
           
          FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.

           COMMENTS  :  According to the author, this bill will better  
          protect individuals who are not physically fit from unnecessary  
          bodily trauma that could result from elective cosmetic surgery.   
          The author states that this bill is not directed at the many  
          good plastic surgeons who require their patients to have a  
          medical clearance before elective cosmetic surgery.  The author  
          believes that explicitly requiring in law a physical examination  
          prior to surgery will reduce the risk of complications,  
          including death, during or after cosmetic surgical procedures.
           

          Analysis Prepared by  :    Josefina Ramirez / B. & P. / (916)  
          319-3301                                                       
          FN: 0006726