California Lawsuit Spotlights Broad Legal Attack on Anti-bias Training in Healthcare

KFF Health News (02/28/24) Cohen, Ronnie

A lawsuit against the Medical Board of California challenges its mandatory implicit bias training for physicians. The lawsuit, filed by two doctors and an activist group, does not question the state's authority to require such training but instead disputes California's requirement that all teachers discuss implicit bias in their continuing medical education classes, asserting that it infringes on their First Amendment rights. The outcome could impact mandatory bias training for all licensed professionals. U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer dismissed the suit in December 2023; however, Fischer allowed the Pacific Legal Foundation to submit an amended complaint. A hearing is scheduled for March 11 in Los Angeles federal court.

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