S-3937.1
SENATE BILL 6166
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Senators Muzzall and Chapman
AN ACT Relating to ensuring transparency in credentials and communications between patients and health care professionals; amending RCW 18.130.180 , 18.57.031 , and 18.71.021 ; adding new sections to chapter 18.130 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.41 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 18.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 18.51 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.128 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70.230 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:
(a) The terms and titles used by health care professionals in clinical settings play a critical role in ensuring transparency and trust between patients and their health care professionals. Misunderstandings about health care professionals' credentials can lead to patient confusion, erode trust, and impact the quality of care;
(b) All members of the health care team play an important role in patient care, however, the use of the title "doctor" in clinical settings and public communications, without clear clarification, may inadvertently lead patients to believe that these health care professionals have attained a doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine degree;