Occasionally it happens that a physician who has worked incredibly hard throughout his or her life runs into legal trouble.  When those troubles includes any criminal element—if for example a physician is charged by information or indictment with a felony or pleads to or is convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony — the physician’s obligation is to self-report to the California Medical Board.  Section 802.1 of California’s Business and Professions Code spells out the reporting requirements and can be found here(link is external).
 
Physicians who do not self-report open themselves up to action against their license by the State of California.  And, if you’re licensed to practice medicine in more than one state, the nightmare of administrative actions and penalties only compound with unreported criminal actions. Not all criminal actions must be reported, however, and it is very important to seek legal advice from an experienced attorney regarding obligations to the California Medical Board—even before the criminal complaint is resolved.