(a)  The rules of a health facility shall include provisions for use of the facility by, and staff privileges for, duly licensed podiatrists within the scope of their respective licensure, subject to rules and regulations governing such use or privileges established by the health facility. Such rules and regulations shall not discriminate on the basis of whether the staff member holds a M. D., D.O., or D.P.M. degree, within the scope of their respective licensure. Each health facility shall establish a staff comprised of physicians and surgeons, podiatrists, or any combination thereof, which shall regulate the admission, conduct suspension, or termination of the staff appointment of the podiatrists while using the facilities. No classification of health facilities by the state department, nor any other classification of health facilities based on quality of service or otherwise, by any person, body, or governmental agency of this state or any subdivision thereof shall be affected by a health facility’s provision for use of its facilities by duly licensed podiatrists, nor shall any such classification be affected by the subjection of the podiatrists, to the rules and regulations of a staff comprising podiatrists, physicians and surgeons, or any combination thereof, which govern the podiatrists’ use of the facilities. No classification of health facilities by any governmental agency of this state or any subdivision thereof pursuant to present law or laws passed hereinafter for the purposes of ascertaining eligibility for compensation, reimbursement, or other benefit for treatment of patients shall be affected by a health facility’s provision for use of its facilities by duly licensed podiatrists, nor shall any such classification be affected by the subjection of the podiatrists and dentists to the rules and regulations of a staff comprising podiatrists, physicians and surgeons, or any combination thereof, which govern the podiatrists’ use of the facilities.

With regard to the practice of podiatry in health facilities throughout this state, medical staff status shall include and provide for the right to pursue and practice full clinical and surgical privileges for holders of M.D., D.O., and D. P.M. degrees within the scope of their respective licensure. Such rights and privileges shall be limited or restricted only upon the basis of an individual practitioner’s demonstrated competence. Such competence shall be determined by health facility rules, regulations, and procedures which are necessary and are applied in good faith, equally and in a nondiscriminatory manner, to all practitioners regardless of whether they hold a M.D., D.O., or D.P.M. degree.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a health facility to offer a specific health service or services not otherwise offered. If a health service is offered, the facility shall not discriminate between persons holding M.D. , D.O., or D.P.M. degrees who are authorized by law to perform such services.

This subdivision shall not prohibit a health facility which is a clinical teaching facility owned or operated by a university operating a school of medicine from requiring that a podiatrist have a faculty teaching appointment as a condition for eligibility for staff privileges for that facility.

(b)  The rules of a health facility which include provisions for use of the facility by, and staff privileges for, medical staff shall not discriminate on the basis of whether the staff member holds a M.D., D.O., or D.P.M. degree, within the scope of their respective licensure. The health facility staff processing, reviewing, evaluating, and determining qualifications for staff privileges for medical staff shall include, if possible, staff members that hold M.D., D.O., and D.P.M. degrees.

(c)  Any violation by a health facility of the provisions of this section may be enjoined in an action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the district attorney of the county in which the health facility is located, upon receipt of a complaint by an aggrieved physician and surgeon or podiatrist.

(Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1214.)