- Brody Fernandez
- (916) 276-3390
- brody.fernandez@asm.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) is introducing two bills which will help create a safer environment for patients in California hospitals.
“We should all recognize that when you’re under the care of medical professionals, when you’re at a hospital, you should feel safe,” Soria said. “The penalty increase will ensure individuals are held accountable for their predatory actions and breach of trust. We need to send a message to anyone that would seek to abuse the trust placed in them as medical professionals, that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. We’re also here to focus on prevention measures and adequate training to ensure patients are protected from unprofessional medical staff.”
The first bill, AB 848, will increase penalties for felony sexual battery by fraud if the crime took place in a hospital setting. Offenders convicted of felony sexual battery would face a sentence of four, six, or eight years and a fine of up to $20,000. Current law provides for a sentence of two, three, or four years and a fine of up to $10,000.
“Assembly member Soria’s bill fixes an imbalance in the sentencing laws of our state, which give an unjustifiable discount on sentencing if an offender assaults multiple victims, for example in a hospital,” said Kim Stone, Legislative Representative for the California District Attorneys Association. “They should be held accountable for the harm they have inflicted to each victim.”
The second bill, AB 849, will require healthcare facilities that offer ultrasounds to notify and provide patients with medical chaperones before conducting an ultrasound on a sensitive region of a patient. It will also establish a new standards for chaperone training, to ensure that hospital staff are educated on how to identify non-standard behavior and protect patient safety.
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Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria represents the 27th Assembly District which includes communities in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.