Title: Health Care Practitioners

Summary: Requires that certain health care practitioners make specified disclosures when presenting themselves as "Doctor" or "Dr."; providing criminal penalties for violations if there is intent to mislead.

Full Text:
An act relating to health care practitioners; amending s. 456.072,F.S.; requiring that certain health care practitioners make specified disclosures when presenting themselves as "Doctor" or "Dr."; creating s. 456.0675, F.S.; providing criminal penalties for violations if there is an intent to mislead; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (oo) is added to subsection (1) of section 456.072, Florida Statutes, to read: 456.072 Grounds for discipline; penalties; enforcement.-(1) The followi ng acts shall constitute grounds for which the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) may be taken: (oo) Presenting oneself with the title of "Doctor" or the abbreviation "Dr." as a name prefix by a person licensed under chapter 464, whether or ally or in writing, while rendering or advertising health care services, without disclosing that the licensee is not a medical doctor or an osteopathic physician. Section 2. Section 456.0675, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 456.0675 Penalty for misleading identification by a health care practitioner.-In addition to, or in lieu of, any other discipline imposed pursuant to s. 456.072, presenting oneself with the title of "Doctor" or the abbreviation "Dr." as a name HB 2013 prefix by a person licensed unde rchapter 464, while rendering or advertising health care services, without disclosing that the licensee is not a medical doctor or an osteopathic physician, and having intent to mislead, constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2013.