Physician Assistant Board supports AB 489 to bar AI systems from posing as licensed health professionals

The California Physician Assistant Board voted on Aug. 15 to support Assembly Bill 489, legislation that would make it unlawful for an artificial-intelligence or generative-AI system to present itself using protected professional titles or otherwise imply that a licensed health professional is providing medical advice or care.

Lisa Morawski, principal consultant to the Assembly Health Committee and a staffer on AB 489, told the board the bill is intended to prevent consumer-facing AI systems from misrepresenting themselves as licensed clinicians. Morawski said the bill would not create new title protections but would clarify that existing protections apply to AI systems as well as to natural persons.

Morawski and board members discussed enforcement. Morawski said the Attorney General's Office supported the bill and that the AG could enforce the prohibition using existing consumer-protection remedies, including the state's Unfair Competition Law. She said boards would not be compelled to act beyond their enforcement priorities but that the law would create a clearer basis to refer and pursue cases involving bad actors or persistent misrepresentations by AI developers or deployers.

Board legal counsel Michael Connotes said the bill would be most useful for conduct by individual licensees or organizations that cause consumer harm; he noted that where a licensee uses AI to mislead patients, existing disciplinary authorities could apply. Morawski said the bill has broad support from health professional boards and associations and consumer groups.

After discussion, a motion to take a support position carried on roll-call vote. The board's motion and the staff materials state that AB 489 is aimed at consumer protection; the AG and several boards provided letters of support, and the bill would permit civil remedies against developers or deployers that unlawfully use protected titles in AI products.