Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, sec. 61 — MA Code / Part I / Title XVI / Chapter 112 / Section 61
Suspension, revocation or cancellation of certificate, registration, license or authority by boards; disciplinary measures; sanctions; educational loan defaulters; review; discipline; activities in other states
Status: in_force

Section 61. Except as otherwise provided by law the board of registration in medicine each board of registration or examination in the department of public health in the executive office of health and human services and, each board of registration or examination in the division of occupational licensure in the office of consumer affairs and business regulation, after a hearing, may, by a majority vote of the whole board, suspend, revoke or cancel any certificate, registration, license or authority issued by it, if it appears to said board that the holder of such certificate, registration, license or authority, is incapacitated by reason of mental illness, or is guilty of deceit, malpractice, gross misconduct in the practice of his profession, or of any offense against the laws of the commonwealth relating thereto. Any person whose certificate, registration, license or authority is suspended or revoked hereunder shall also be liable to such other punishment as may be provided by law. The said boards may make such rules and regulations as they deem proper for the filing of charges and the conduct of hearings. A board of registration under the supervision of the division of occupational licensure may discipline the holder of a license, certificate, registration or authority issued pursuant to this chapter or chapters 141 and 142 if it is determined, after a consent agreement between the parties or after an opportunity for an adjudicatory proceeding conducted pursuant to chapter 30A, that such holder has: (1) engaged in conduct which places into question the holder's competence to practice the profession including, but not limited to, gross misconduct; practicing the profession fraudulently; practicing his profession beyond the authorized scope of his license, certificate, registration or authority; practicing the profession with gross incompetence; or practicing the profession with negligence on 1 or more than 1 occasion; (2) engaged in the practice of his profession while the ability to practice was impaired by alcohol or drugs; (3) violated any law, rule or regulation of the board of registration governing the practice of the profession; (4) been convicted of a criminal offense which is reasonably related to the practice of the profession; (5) engaged in dishonesty, fraud or deceit which is reasonably related to the practice of the profession; (6) knowingly permitted, aided or abetted an unauthorized person in performing activities requiring a license, certificate, registration or authority; or (7) had a license, certificate, registration or authority issued by another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign state or nation with authority to issue such a license, certificate, registration or authority revoked, cancelled, suspended, not renewed or otherwise acted against, or if the holder has been disciplined, if the basis for the action would constitute a basis for disciplinary action in the commonwealth. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a board of registration under the supervision of the division of occupational licensure, may by a majority vote and after a consent agreement between the parties or after an opportunity for an adjudicatory proceeding conducted pursuant to chapter 30A, upon determination made that the holder of a license, certificate, registration or authority issued by any such board of registration is subject to discipline based on any provision enumerated in this section, undertake 1 or more of the following actions:-- (1) suspend, revoke, cancel, decline to renew, or place on probation such license, certificate, registration or authority; (2) reprimand or censure a holder; (3) assess upon the holder a civil administrative penalty, as determined by the board, not to exceed $100 for a first violation; $500 for a second violation; $1,500 for a third violation; or $2,500 for a fourth or subsequent violation; (4) require the holder to complete additional education and training as a condition of retention or future consideration of reinstatement of the license, certificate, registration or authority; (5) require the holder to practice under appropriate supervision for a period of time as determined by the board as a condition of retention or future consideration of reinstatement of the license, certificate, registration or authority; (6) require the holder to participate in an alcohol or drug rehabilitation program as a condition of retention or future consideration of reinstatement of the license, certificate, registration or authority. Nothing in this section shall be deemed a limitation on a board's authority to impose such reasonable sanctions as it deems appropriate by the board after a hearing or by a consent agreement. A person sanctioned under this section shall be subject to such other sanctions or punishment provided by law. The boards shall promulgate such rules and regulations not inconsistent with chapter 30A as necessary for the filing of charges and the conduct of proceedings. A board of registration operating pursuant to this chapter or agency shall not deny issuance of, revoke or refuse to renew a professional or occupational certificate, registration, license or authority of an individual based on the individual's default on an educational loan. Each such board, if it appears after a hearing that a statement in an application to it for certification, registration, licensure or authority, which is required to be under oath or affirmation or to contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury, is false and known to the applicant to be false, shall refuse to grant or issue or shall revoke or cancel such certificate, registration, license or authority. The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect, but shall be in addition to, any other penalty provided by law. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no such board shall make any rule or regulation prohibiting the advertising or dissemination of truthful information concerning the price, nature and availability of goods and services to consumers, the effect of which would restrain trade or lessen competition. [ Three paragraphs added by 2025, 16, Sec. 15 effective November 5, 2025. For text of section effective until November 5, 2025, see above.] Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no person shall be subject to discipline by a board of registration, including through the revocation, suspension or cancellation of a certificate, registration or license, or a reprimand, censure or monetary fine, for providing or assisting in the provision of reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services, as those terms are defined in section 11 I 1/2 of chapter 12, or for any judgment, discipline or other sanction arising from the health care services if the services as provided would have been lawful and consistent with the standard of conduct for the designated profession had they occurred entirely in the commonwealth. No board of registration shall make available for public dissemination on an individual's profile the record of any criminal conviction or charge for a felony or serious misdemeanor, final disciplinary action by a licensing board in another state or a malpractice court judgment, arbitration award or settlement that resulted from providing or assisting in the provision of reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services or for any judgment, discipline or other sanction arising from the health care services if the services as provided would have been lawful and consistent with the scope and standards of practice for the designated profession had they occurred entirely in the commonwealth. No board of registration shall take adverse action on an application for a certificate, registration or licensure based on a criminal or civil action or disciplinary action by a licensing board of another state or a medical malpractice claim in another state that resulted from providing or assisting in the provision of reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that, as provided, would have been lawful and consistent with the standard of conduct for the designated profession had the health care services occurred entirely in the commonwealth.

Section 61. Except as otherwise provided by law the board of registration in medicine each board of registration or examination in the department of public health in the executive office of health and human services and, each board of registration or examination in the division of occupational licensure in the office of consumer affairs and business regulation, after a hearing, may, by a majority vote of the whole board, suspend, revoke or cancel any certificate, registration, license or authority issued by it, if it appears to said board that the holder of such certificate, registration, license or authority, is incapacitated by reason of mental illness, or is guilty of deceit, malpractice, gross misconduct in the practice of his profession, or of any offense against the laws of the commonwealth relating thereto. Any person whose certificate, registration, license or authority is suspended or revoked hereunder shall also be liable to such other punishment as may be provided by law. The said boards may make such rules and regulations as they deem proper for the filing of charges and the conduct of hearings.

A board of registration under the supervision of the division of occupational licensure may discipline the holder of a license, certificate, registration or authority issued pursuant to this chapter or chapters 141 and 142 if it is determined, after a consent agreement between the parties or after an opportunity for an adjudicatory proceeding conducted pursuant to chapter 30A, that such holder has:

(1) engaged in conduct which places into question the holder's competence to practice the profession including, but not limited to, gross misconduct; practicing the profession fraudulently; practicing his profession beyond the authorized scope of his license, certificate, registration or authority; practicing the profession with gross incompetence; or practicing the profession with negligence on 1 or more than 1 occasion;

(2) engaged in the practice of his profession while the ability to practice was impaired by alcohol or drugs;

(3) violated any law, rule or regulation of the board of registration governing the practice of the profession;

(4) been convicted of a criminal offense which is reasonably related to the practice of the profession;

(5) engaged in dishonesty, fraud or deceit which is reasonably related to the practice of the profession;

(6) knowingly permitted, aided or abetted an unauthorized person in performing activities requiring a license, certificate, registration or authority; or

(7) had a license, certificate, registration or authority issued by another state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a foreign state or nation with authority to issue such a license, certificate, registration or authority revoked, cancelled, suspended, not renewed or otherwise acted against, or if the holder has been disciplined, if the basis for the action would constitute a basis for disciplinary action in the commonwealth.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a board of registration under the supervision of the division of occupational licensure, may by a majority vote and after a consent agreement between the parties or after an opportunity for an adjudicatory proceeding conducted pursuant to chapter 30A, upon determination made that the holder of a license, certificate, registration or authority issued by any such board of registration is subject to discipline based on any provision enumerated in this section, undertake 1 or more of the following actions:--

(1) suspend, revoke, cancel, decline to renew, or place on probation such license, certificate, registration or authority;

(2) reprimand or censure a holder;

(3) assess upon the holder a civil administrative penalty, as determined by the board, not to exceed $100 for a first violation; $500 for a second violation; $1,500 for a third violation; or $2,500 for a fourth or subsequent violation;

(4) require the holder to complete additional education and training as a condition of retention or future consideration of reinstatement of the license, certificate, registration or authority;

(5) require the holder to practice under appropriate supervision for a period of time as determined by the board as a condition of retention or future consideration of reinstatement of the license, certificate, registration or authority;

(6) require the holder to participate in an alcohol or drug rehabilitation program as a condition of retention or future consideration of reinstatement of the license, certificate, registration or authority.

Nothing in this section shall be deemed a limitation on a board's authority to impose such reasonable sanctions as it deems appropriate by the board after a hearing or by a consent agreement. A person sanctioned under this section shall be subject to such other sanctions or punishment provided by law. The boards shall promulgate such rules and regulations not inconsistent with chapter 30A as necessary for the filing of charges and the conduct of proceedings.

A board of registration operating pursuant to this chapter or agency shall not deny issuance of, revoke or refuse to renew a professional or occupational certificate, registration, license or authority of an individual based on the individual's default on an educational loan.

Each such board, if it appears after a hearing that a statement in an application to it for certification, registration, licensure or authority, which is required to be under oath or affirmation or to contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury, is false and known to the applicant to be false, shall refuse to grant or issue or shall revoke or cancel such certificate, registration, license or authority. The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect, but shall be in addition to, any other penalty provided by law.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no such board shall make any rule or regulation prohibiting the advertising or dissemination of truthful information concerning the price, nature and availability of goods and services to consumers, the effect of which would restrain trade or lessen competition.

[ Three paragraphs added by 2025, 16, Sec. 15 effective November 5, 2025. For text of section effective until November 5, 2025, see above.]

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no person shall be subject to discipline by a board of registration, including through the revocation, suspension or cancellation of a certificate, registration or license, or a reprimand, censure or monetary fine, for providing or assisting in the provision of reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services, as those terms are defined in section 11 I 1/2 of chapter 12, or for any judgment, discipline or other sanction arising from the health care services if the services as provided would have been lawful and consistent with the standard of conduct for the designated profession had they occurred entirely in the commonwealth.

No board of registration shall make available for public dissemination on an individual's profile the record of any criminal conviction or charge for a felony or serious misdemeanor, final disciplinary action by a licensing board in another state or a malpractice court judgment, arbitration award or settlement that resulted from providing or assisting in the provision of reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services or for any judgment, discipline or other sanction arising from the health care services if the services as provided would have been lawful and consistent with the scope and standards of practice for the designated profession had they occurred entirely in the commonwealth.

No board of registration shall take adverse action on an application for a certificate, registration or licensure based on a criminal or civil action or disciplinary action by a licensing board of another state or a medical malpractice claim in another state that resulted from providing or assisting in the provision of reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services that, as provided, would have been lawful and consistent with the standard of conduct for the designated profession had the health care services occurred entirely in the commonwealth.