Consumer Affairs Dept. - Board of Medical Examiners Records, 1876-1978

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Summary

Title:
Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records
Dates:
1876-1978
Creators:
Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Quality Assurance, 1976-1978; Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners, 1971-1976; Dept. of Professional and Vocational Standards - Board of Medical Examiners, 1929-1971; Board of Medical Examiners, 1876-1929
Abstract:
The records of the California State Board of Medical Examiners consist of 1,678 files folders and 177 volumes of textual material that reveal the history, policies and functions of the Board from 1876-1978, as well as information about the medical professions and institutions that fell under its regulation.
Extent:
1,678 files folders and 177 volumes
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records, [ID Number]:[Series Number], [box and folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The records of the California State Board of Medical Examiners consist of 1,678 files folders and 177 volumes of textual material that reveal the history, policies and functions of the Board from 1876-1978, as well as information about the medical professions and institutions that fell under its regulation. The Board experienced a number of name and department changes throughout its existence, so many of the series may have several records creators. The researcher should also be aware that some series within this record group are restricted because they are investigatory in nature.

Biographical / historical:

The medical profession was the first in California to be regulated by law when a Board of Medical Examiners was established, effective April 3, 1876 (Statutes 1875-1876, Ch. 518, p. 792). Originally, the Board of Medical Examiners (hereafter known as the Board) was an independent organization which functioned outside of the framework of state government. Its members were appointed by the medical profession until 1907 when the Board's representatives became subject to appointment by the governor (Statutes 1907, Ch. 212, p. 252).

In 1929, the Board was placed under the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards (Statutes 1929, Ch. 290). The Board was later moved to the Department of Consumer Affairs in 1971 (Statutes 1971, Ch. 716). In 1976, a name change occurred in which the State Board of Medical Examiners became the State Board of Medical Quality Assurance (Statutes 1976, Ch. 1185).

Throughout more than a century of existence, the Board's policies and functions are consistent in regard to all facets of medical qualifications and practice in California. Its major functions include licensing qualifications of physicians and surgeons, naturopaths, drugless practitioners; chiropodists, midwives, psychologists, physical therapists, and physicians assistants who have been regulated by the Board at various time periods. The Board's functions also include the accreditation of medical colleges, the devising of application standards and oral and written examination questions, and survey requirements for hospitals and clinical facilities and in maintaining reciprocity with out-of-state and foreign medical boards. Other important functions of the Board are to investigate complaints against physicians, medical colleges, hospitals, clinics, and other individuals or organizations regarding possible violations of the Board's rules and regulations of other state laws. It conducts hearings and issues citations relating to legal cases arising from its investigations. The Board's sole financial support has always been derived from application fees, fines, and annual or biennial taxes collected from its licenses and certified members.

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records through a series of agency transfers according to state law.
Accruals:

Further accruals are expected.

Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Archives Staff
Date Prepared:
© 2000
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Archives Staff. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: 01 March 2000.

Access and use

Restrictions:

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Terms of access:

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Dept. of Consumer Affairs - Board of Medical Examiners Records, [ID Number]:[Series Number], [box and folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
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