April 09, 2015
The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners is opposing a bill that would require criminal background checks for doctors who have lived and worked abroad, NJSpotlight.com reports.
Members of the board argue that the bill, S-1533/A-2769, unfairly targets doctors and could be costly.
The legislation, which would require the board to check whether a doctor has a criminal history in another country before issuing or renewing a license, was introduced after a Pompton Lakes doctor failed to disclose a manslaughter conviction in the United Kingdom.
In 2001, [Dr. Richard] Kaul was convicted of manslaughter and lost his medical license in the United Kingdom after a patient he sedated for a tooth extraction went into cardiac arrest and died.
He later renewed an existing New Jersey medical license without disclosing the conviction. The medical examiners board revoked Kaul’s license in 2012 after he had malpractice cases involving six patients.
Bill sponsor Sen. Loretta Weinberg said the board’s primary responsibility is to protect the public.
“I always find it interesting that people complain about work that is actually their mission,” Weinberg told NJSpotlight. “I’m sorry if they consider it too much work, but I think it’s a very worthwhile endeavor in order to protect consumers and patients.”
The bill was passed by the Senate 38-1 last month and is now awaiting a committee vote in the Assembly.
Read more from NJSpotlight.
