Thread by @TracyBethHoeg

Today I voiced my opposition to CA's #AB2098, which could lead to doctors facing disciplinary action if accused of spreading covid mis/disinformation. As I discuss here, repeatedly what was considered misinformation has turned out to be true. This bill is a threat to all of us🧵

https://twitter.com/JZachreson/status/1516486978295918594

I think it must require a lot of hubris to write a bill, which suggests a small group of doctors can always know the truth (1984's Ministry of Truth?) In fact, I discussed 1 example of a scientific statement in the actual bill text that was misleading.
Medicine requires humility.

I'm a person who ardently tries not to take sides because I believe in my heart of hearts we are all in this together, but
1. this bill has a very accusatory tone, suggesting there are many physicians who are intentionally trying to harm &

2. The room today felt like a 2 tiered society where the doctors (many in masks) were in opposition to "the people" who opposed the bill. I don't believe there were any other doctors opposing the bill besides me
This was indicative of the atmosphere 😬

https://twitter.com/JZachreson/status/1516456330927640582

If physicians don't serve the people, who do they serve?

And if physicians are hesitant to say what they truly believe for fear of being disciplined for spreading "misinformation," the public will lose trust in doctors & scientific inquiry will be stifled

Thankfully, I had @_Iaura_ on my side. I knew I liked her when she jokingly asked me why I didn't wear a stethoscope 😁
There have been many amendments to the bill & she explains incredibly well why this bill is still "unconstitutional on its face"

https://twitter.com/JZachreson/status/1516469699772436482

As @DrJBhattacharya said this "California Assembly bill turns doctors into agents of state public health rather than advocates for their patients"
That should frighten all of us.
#AB2098
bariweiss.substack.com/p/a-warning-fr…

I just leaned it looks like the bill advanced & will now go to the Appropriations Committee.

Voting straight down party lines. Sad but not surprising.
A scary situation for California when so much power seems to rest in the hands of one political party.

https://twitter.com/ca4governance/status/1516567628633894916