California's ambulatory surgery centers would face stricter regulations under a bill passed by the state's legislature and awaiting the governor's decision.
As reported in the Los Angeles Times, the proposal would cast a closer examination on ASC accreditation.
Facilities that are stripped of their accreditation for violating safety standards can, at present, apply for accreditation through another agency. The bill at issue would bar them from doing so. It would also require the state medical board to announce on its website facilities which have lost their accreditation or are on probation with accreditors.
The bill follows the recent deaths of 5 Southern California patients following gastric banding surgery, as well as the 2007 death of Donda West after outpatient liposuction and breast augmentation surgery.
Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown has until Oct. 9 to sign or veto the bill.
David Bernard
