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URGENT PRIORITY TO REGISTER YOUR OBJECTION
TO YOUR STATE SENATOR
PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN WORDS TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS
AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS THEY RELATES TO THIS BILL.
YOUR LETTERHEAD
(INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND ADDDRESS - EMAIL & PHONE NUMBER ARE OPTIONAL)
The Honorable Senator [NAME]
State Capitol, Room [Number]
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Oppose SB 1406
Dear Senator [NAME]:
I am writing to ask you to oppose Senate Bill 1406
As introduced, this bill would:
1)
Allow optometrists, who are not medical doctors or surgeons, to treat medical and surgical diseases of the eye without going to medical school or through approved surgical and pharmacological training. They would be allowed to circumvent the California Medical Board and to shortcut proper education which threatens public safety.
Allow optometrists, who are not medical doctors or surgeons, to treat medical and surgical diseases of the eye without going to medical school or through approved surgical and pharmacological training. They would be allowed to circumvent the California Medical Board and to shortcut proper education which threatens public safety.2)Allow optometrists to diagnose and treat ANY part of the visual system (which would include major portions of the brain), as "authorized by the Board of Optometry;" again circumventing the California Medical Board and the American Board of Ophthalmology.
Allow optometrists to diagnose and treat ANY part of the visual system (which would include major portions of the brain), as "authorized by the Board of Optometry;" again circumventing the California Medical Board and the American Board of Ophthalmology.3)Make the Board of Optometry (no longer the legislature) solely responsible for determining the scope of practice of optometrists in California;
Make the Board of Optometry (no longer the legislature) solely responsible for determining the scope of practice of optometrists in California;3)Allow optometrists use ANY therapeutic pharmaceutical agent (including potentially very addicting schedule drugs such as morphine) "he or she determines, in the exercise of his or her professional judgment, to be necessary,"
Allow optometrists use ANY therapeutic pharmaceutical agent (including potentially very addicting schedule drugs such as morphine) "he or she determines, in the exercise of his or her professional judgment, to be necessary," 4)Remove all referral requirements to an ophthalmologist or other physician for lack of improvement progression on treatment; and
Remove all referral requirements to an ophthalmologist or other physician for lack of improvement progression on treatment; and5)Allow optometrists to perform "minor" surgery not under general anesthesia (which account for greater than 95% of eye surgery).
Allow optometrists to perform "minor" surgery not under general anesthesia (which account for greater than 95% of eye surgery).Ophthalmologists have at least 8 years of graduate medical education including four years of medical school, a year-long hospital internship, and a 3 year residency in ophthalmology. I am very concerned that the training of optometrists is inadequate to justify this sweeping set of new privileges. Therefore authorizing these would pose a serious threat to patient safety.
It is difficult to believe that such a Bill would is even being considered. Please help protect the safety of the citizens of California by opposing SB 1406. I am happy to discuss this matter with you at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Your Name
