A patient safety bill aimed at closing a "Dr. Death" loophole was signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott June 13.
Three things to know about HB 1998:
1. It's now a class A misdemeanor to lie on a medical license application. Physicians convicted of a a felony or misdemeanor related to moral turpitude won't be allowed to practice in the state, and those who had their license restricted or revoked in another state won't be allowed to practice in Texas.
2. The Texas Medical Board will have to update profiles on its website within 10 days of notification of any disciplinary action against a physician. Monthly monitoring of physiciams will also be required with the National Practitioner Data Bank.
3. The bill comes five years after Christopher Duntsch, MD, PhD, nicknamed "Dr. Death," was sentenced for killing or injuring multiple patients.