WMC Misinformation Discipline

The Washington Medical Commission (WMC), as well as other Boards and Commissions, put forward its formal Misinformation Position Statement to providers, announcing that WMC “will scrutinize any complaints received about practitioners granting exemptions to vaccination or masks that are not based in established science or verifiable fact.”  This position was adopted unanimously on September 22, 2021 to be found here.  The WMC supports the position taken by the Federation of State Medical Boards but states it “does not limit this perspective to vaccines but broadly applies this standard to all misinformation…”

However, when matters are considered for disciplinary action, they are considered by a panel of three (3) to four (4) WMC members, one of whom is a public member.  Thus, there will inherently be a subjective review of each complaint, notwithstanding the provider’s ability and qualifications to exercise their independent and professional judgment for each patient’s unique situation. 

Even when a patient is already vaccinated, or has declined vaccination after having been fully informed, where no misinformation was provided, complaints have still come in and have been authorized for investigation.  This includes from other providers who were not present or who second-guess the initial encounter.

Given this broad increase in scrutiny by the WMC, one can expect to get caught up in an investigation even under the best of circumstances, following WMC’s position.  The WMC has contracted for its latest licensing and discipline audit and expects field work to be completed by late fall with a report in November, 2022.