• Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Log In
  • Sign Up
  • Data Privacy
  • Send a Release
Cision PR Newswire: news distribution, targeting and monitoring
  • News
  • Products
    • Overview
    • Distribution by PR Newswire
    • Cision Communications Cloud®
    • Cision IR
    • All Products
  • Contact
    • General Inquiries
    • Request a Demo
    • Editorial Bureaus
    • Partnerships
    • Media Inquiries
    • Worldwide Offices

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases
      • All News Releases
      • All Public Company
      • English-only


      • News Releases Overview
      • Multimedia Gallery
      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos


      • Multimedia Gallery Overview
      • Trending Topics
      • All Trending Topics


  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation
      • All Automotive & Transportation
      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation


      • Auto & Transportation Overview
      • Business Technology
      • All Business Technology
      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors


      • Business Technology Overview
      • Entertain­ment & Media
      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television


      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview
      • Financial Services & Investing
      • All Financial Services & Investing
      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital


      • Financial Services & Investing Overview
      • General Business
      • All General Business
      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News


      • General Business Overview
  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology
      • All Consumer Technology
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications


      • Consumer Technology Overview
      • Energy & Natural Resources
      • All Energy
      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities


      • Energy & Natural Resources Overview
      • Environ­ment
      • All Environ­ment
      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters


      • Environ­ment Overview
      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
      • All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco


      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing Overview
      • Telecomm­unications
      • All Telecomm­unications
      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications


      • Telecomm­unications Overview
  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail
      • All Consumer Products & Retail
      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys


      • Consumer Products & Retail Overview
      • Entertain­ment & Media
      • All Entertain­ment & Media
      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television


      • Entertain­ment & Media Overview
      • Health
      • All Health
      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine


      • Health Overview
      • Sports
      • All Sports
      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories


      • Sports Overview
      • Travel
      • All Travel
      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry


      • Travel Overview
  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest
      • All Policy & Public Interest
      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy


      • Policy & Public Interest Overview
  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture
      • All People & Culture
      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women


      • People & Culture Overview
      • In-Language News

      • español
      • português
      • Česko
      • Danmark
      • Deutschland
      • España
      • France
      • Italia
      • Nederland
      • Norge
      • Polska
      • Portugal
      • Россия
      • Slovensko
      • Suomi
      • Sverige
  • Overview
  • Distribution by PR Newswire
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Cision IR
  • All Products
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices
  • PR Newswire: news distribution, targeting and monitoring
  • Send a Release
    • ALL CONTACT INFO

      Contact Us

      888-776-0942
      from 8 AM - 10 PM ET

  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
    • Trending Topics
    • Send a Release
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Journalists
    • RSS
    • GDPR
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
    • Send a Release
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Journalists
    • RSS
    • GDPR
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
    • Send a Release
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Journalists
    • RSS
    • GDPR
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • Send a Release
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Journalists
    • RSS
    • GDPR
  • Policy & Public Interest
    • Send a Release
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Journalists
    • RSS
    • GDPR
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
    • Send a Release
    • Sign Up
    • Log In
    • Resources
    • Blog
    • Journalists
    • RSS
    • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Overview
  • Distribution by PR Newswire
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • Cision IR
  • All Products
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • General Inquiries
  • Request a Demo
  • Editorial Bureaus
  • Partnerships
  • Media Inquiries
  • Worldwide Offices
  • Send a Release
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Consumer Watchdog Calls on Gov. Newsom to Withdraw Nomination of Dr. Richard Thorp, Former Head of the Doctors' Lobby, to Board Charged with Protecting Patient Safety

As President of California Medical Association, Thorp Oversaw Nearly $1M in Payments to Newsom Advisors Kinney and DeBoo

Consumer Watchdog Logo (PRNewsfoto/Consumer Watchdog)

News provided by

Consumer Watchdog

Jan 13, 2021, 15:19 ET

Share this article


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog renewed its call for Governor Gavin Newsom to withdraw the nomination of Dr. Richard Thorp, former president of the doctors' lobby, to the Medical Board of California.

"The Medical Board's job is patient protection," said Consumer Watchdog board member Tammy Smick, who lost her son to medical negligence, in a letter objecting to Dr. Thorp's confirmation. "It is outrageous that a past president and member of the California Medical Association, a political organization with a long record of active opposition to reasonable physician oversight, is even being considered for this critical public safety post."

In 2013-14, the years Thorp was president, the California Medical Association and its political committees paid nearly $1M to Newsom advisors and longtime CMA consultants Jason Kinney, whose birthday Governor Newsom celebrated at the French Laundry dinner, and Jim DeBoo, who Governor Newsom just appointed his executive secretary.

Dr. Thorp's appointment was scheduled for consideration at the March 11, 2020 hearing of the Senate Rules Committee.  On March 6, Mrs. Smick wrote a letter objecting to the nomination and detailing Dr. Thorp's record of opposition to patient safety measures when head of the Medical Association. Read her letter here: https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2020-12/Ltr%20Opposing%20Richard%20Thorp%20nomination3-6-20%20copy.pdf 

The hearing was cancelled. Governor Newsom then used his emergency powers to extend the confirmation deadline three times, allowing Dr. Thorp to serve for 18 months without Senate confirmation or public review.

The failure to conduct legally required confirmations denied Mrs. Smick and other medical negligence survivors the opportunity to make their case against Dr. Thorp, said Consumer Watchdog.  As first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, 185 appointees were confirmed by the Senate during the pandemic. Thorp and two other medical board appointments were the only appointees up for approval at the time when the Governor used his emergency powers to extend the deadline for an extra year.

Mrs. Smick wrote: "Dr. Thorp's nomination is doubly galling because a law enacted in 1975 prevents families like mine from seeking legal accountability when doctors kill our loved ones. The Medical Board was created as part of the same deal, with a promise that the legal deterrence being taken from patients would be replaced with regulatory enforcement to protect patients from harm.  That promise has been forgotten."

Thorp was CMA President in 2013-14 when the Association fought against Proposition 46 to index the medical malpractice cap for inflation, require doctors to check the CURES database before prescribing opioids, and mandate drug testing for doctors.  Kinney and DeBoo were paid $949,775 by CMA and the committee in those years. All told, Kinney and DeBoo made $2.8 million over the last ten years representing the Medical Association and its political committees opposed to adjusting the state's 1975 medical malpractice cap.

See the payments by the CMA to Kinney and DeBoo.

During his tenure on the Medical Board, Dr. Thorp has vigorously advocated for the positions of the Medical Association and doctors' interests at the expense of the public, said Consumer Watchdog. Since his Board tenure began Dr. Thorp has: Opposed requiring doctors to personally review a patient's prescription history before prescribing opioids; opposed increasing physician licensing fees to adequately fund the Board's investigations of physician misconduct; and, championed confidential diversion programs for substance abusing doctors, which replace public enforcement actions.

"The democratic process by which all appointees have to answer for their record was bypassed on behalf a politically connected doctor with deep ties to the Governor's closest consultants and confidants and a history of opposing patient safety protections. Thorp has to go," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog.

Consumer Watchdog also opposed the re-nomination of Dr. Dev GnanaDev, another past president of the doctors' lobby. GnanaDev was first appointed to the Board by Governor Brown. The Senate Rules Committee told the San Francisco Chronicle a hearing has now been scheduled for February 3, 2021.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Related Links

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org

Modal title

Also from this source

Ninth Circuit Reinstates HIV Discrimination Claims Against CVS...


Consumer Bottle Redemption Rate Falls To 58%, Major Overhaul Of...

Explore

More news releases in similar topics

  • Health Care & Hospitals
  • Advocacy Group Opinion

    Contact Cision

  • Cision Distribution 888-776-0942
    from 8 AM - 9 PM ET

  • Chat with an Expert
    • General Inquiries
    • Request a Demo
    • Editorial Bureaus
    • Partnerships
    • Media Inquiries
    • Worldwide Offices

    Products

  • Cision Communication Cloud®
  • For Marketers
  • For Public Relations
  • For IR & Compliance
  • For Agency
  • For Small Business
  • All Products

    About

  • About PR Newswire
  • About Cision
  • Become a Publishing Partner
  • Become a Channel Partner
  • Careers
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Accessibility Statement

    • Asia
    • Brazil
    • Canada
    • Czech
    • Denmark
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • India
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Mexico
    • Middle East
    • Netherlands
    • Norway
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Russia
    • Slovakia
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • United Kingdom

    My Services

  • All New Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet

Contact Cision


Products


About


My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet℠
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2021 Cision US Inc.