Health and Safety Code section 24174

As used in this chapter, “medical experiment” means:

(a)

The severance or penetration or damaging of tissues of a human subject or the use of a drug or device, as defined in Section 109920 or 109925, electromagnetic radiation, heat or cold, or a biological substance or organism, in or upon a human subject in the practice or research of medicine in a manner not reasonably related to maintaining or improving the health of the subject or otherwise directly benefiting the subject.

(b)

The investigational use of a drug or device as provided in Section 111590 and 111595.

(c)

Withholding medical treatment from a human subject for any purpose other than maintenance or improvement of the health of the subject.

Source: Section 24174, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=HSC§ionNum=24174.­ (updated Sep. 29, 1996; accessed Nov. 17, 2025).

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Verified:
Nov. 17, 2025

§ 24174's source at ca​.gov