California’s COVID-19 Gag Law Is ‘First Effort to Suppress’ Doctors: Lawyer

'If they get away with this, it's not going to be the last time they do this'

A file photo shows a doctor and a nurse in a hospital. Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

California’s controversial COVID-19 misinformation law, which bars doctors from providing “misinformation” or “disinformation” related to COVID-19, is an unprecedented effort by those in power to block doctors from sharing their views on COVID-19 topics, including on vaccines, with their patients, an attorney says. And lawmakers had pivoted the initial bill from its true, intended purpose to be able to pass it.

That’s according to Rick Jaffe, an attorney who represents a lawsuit challenging the measure, AB 2098 (pdf), also referred to colloquially as the state’s COVID-19 misinformation law, which became effective on Jan. 1 but has since been put on hold.