Source: http://www.delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c017/sc10/index.shtml
Timestamp: 2016-06-30 13:56:22
Document Index: 165434816

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1796', '§ 1797', '§ 1798', '§ 1798', '§ 1799', '§ 1799', '§ 1799', '§ 1799', '§ 1799', '§ 1799', '§ 1799', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1797', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1798', '§ 1734', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 19', '§ 20', '§ 1798', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1799', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1799', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1799', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1799', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1799', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1799', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1799', '§ 1798', '§ 1798', '§ 3']

TITLE 24 - CHAPTER 17. MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT - Subchapter X. Acupuncture Practitioners
Authenticated PDF § 1796 § 1797 § 1798 § 1798A § 1799 § 1799A § 1799B § 1799C § 1799D § 1799E § 1799F TITLE 24
Subchapter X. Acupuncture Practitioners
(a) The Acupuncture Advisory Council (Council) consists of 5 voting members, and 1 ex officio member. The 5 voting members shall consist of 1 physician member of the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and 4 Council members licensed and trained in acupuncture who have been primarily employed in the practice of acupuncture in this State for at least 3 years immediately prior to appointment. The ex officio member shall be a Delaware physician who has expertise in acupuncture. The Council may elect officers as necessary.
(c) The Council shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the practice of acupuncture, after public hearing and subject to the approval of the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. The Board must approve or reject within a reasonable amount of time proposed rules or regulations submitted to it by the Council.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 319, § 1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 139, § 1.; § 1797 Acupuncture practitioners.
(1) "Acupuncture" is the stimulation of points on the body by the insertion and manipulation of acupuncture needles using both traditional and modern scientific methods of evaluation and point selection. It also refers to a form of health care, based on a theory of energetic physiology that describes and explains the interrelationship of the body organs or functions with an associated acupuncture point or combination of points located on "channels" or "meridians". Acupuncture points shall include the classical points defined in authoritative acupuncture texts and special groupings of acupuncture points elicited using generally accepted diagnostic techniques of oriental medicine and selected for stimulation in accord with its principles and practices. Acupuncture points are stimulated in order to restore the normal function of the aforementioned organs or sets of functions. Acupuncture shall also include the ancillary techniques of oriental medicine including moxibustion, acupressure or other forms of manual meridian therapy and recommendations that include oriental dietary therapy, supplements and lifestyle modifications according to the principles of oriental medicine. Oriental dietary therapy shall be defined as recommending, advising or furnishing nonfraudulent information about herbs, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, sugars, enzymes, food concentrates, foods, other food supplements, or dietary supplements. For purposes of this paragraph, "fraud" shall be defined as an intentional misrepresentation for financial gain. Legitimate disagreement about the role of the above-listed nutrients and foods as they apply to human nutrition shall not, in and of itself, constitute fraud. These supplemental techniques may be used within the public domain or by another licensed or registered healthcare or bodywork professional, according to state law or regulation.
(4) "License" means, unless the context requires otherwise, a license issued by the Board to practice acupuncture.
(5)a. "Practice of acupuncture" means the use of needles or of oriental medical therapies for the purpose of normalizing energetic physiological functions including pain control, and for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 319, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 449, §§ 1, 2.; § 1798 Licensure.
(a) All applicants must meet the following requirements for licensure by the Board as an acupuncture practitioner:
(b) Waiver of requirements. — The Acupuncture Advisory Council, by the affirmative vote of 3 of its members and with the approval of the Board within a reasonable period of time from the vote, may waive any of the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if it finds all of the following by clear and convincing evidence:
(d) Temporary license. — The Executive Director of the Board, with the approval of a physician member of the Board, may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure who has presented a completed application to the Board. A temporary permit issued under this subsection is valid for a period of not more than 90 days and may not be renewed. Only 1 temporary permit may be issued under this subsection.
(1) The Council, after appropriate notice and hearing, may recommend to the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline that the Board revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue a license, or place the licensee on probation, or otherwise discipline a licensee found guilty of unprofessional conduct. Unprofessional conduct includes, but is not limited to, fraud, deceit, incompetence, gross negligence, dishonesty, or other behavior in the licensee's professional activity which is likely to endanger the public health, safety, or welfare. The Council may recommend and Board may take necessary action against an acupuncture practitioner who is unable to render acupuncture services with reasonable skill or safety to patients because of mental illness or mental incompetence, physical illness, or the excessive use of drugs including alcohol. Disciplinary action or other action taken against an acupuncture practitioner must be in accordance with the procedures for disciplinary and other actions against physicians, including appeals as set forth in subchapter IV of this chapter except that a hearing panel for a complaint against an acupuncture practitioner consists of 3 members; 1 of the 3 shall be a physician member of the Board; 2 of the 3 shall be unbiased members of the Acupuncture Advisory Council; and if no conflict exists, 1 of the 2 Acupuncture Advisory Council members shall be the Chair of the Acupuncture Advisory Council. The Chair of the hearing panel shall be 1 of the Council panel members.
(2)a. If the Board or the Acupuncture Advisory Council receives a formal or informal complaint concerning the activity of an acupuncture practitioner and the Board or Council members reasonably believe that the activity presents a clear and immediate danger to the public health, the Council may recommend that the Board issue an order temporarily suspending the acupuncture practitioner's license to practice pending a hearing. An order temporarily suspending a license to practice may not be issued by the Board, unless the acupuncture practitioner or the acupuncture practitioner's attorney received at least 24 hours' written or oral notice prior to the temporary suspension so that the acupuncture practitioner or the acupuncture practitioner's attorney can be heard in opposition to the proposed suspension, and unless at least 3 members of the Council and 7 members of the Board vote in favor of the temporary suspension. An order of temporary suspension pending a hearing may remain in effect for no longer than 60 days from the date of the issuance of the order unless the temporarily suspended acupuncture practitioner requests a continuance of the hearing date. If the acupuncture practitioner requests a continuance, the order of temporary suspension remains in effect until the hearing panel convenes and a decision is rendered.
b. An acupuncture practitioner whose license to practice has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section must be notified of the temporary suspension immediately and in writing. Notification consists of a copy of the complaint and the order of temporary suspension pending a hearing personally served upon the acupuncture practitioner or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the acupuncture practitioner's last known address.
c. An acupuncture practitioner whose license to practice has been temporarily suspended pursuant to this section may request an expedited hearing. The Council shall schedule the hearing on an expedited basis, provided that the Council receives the request within 5 calendar days from the date on which the acupuncture practitioner received notification of the decision of the Board, to temporarily suspend the acupuncture practitioner's license to practice.
e. In addition to making findings of fact, the hearing panel shall also determine whether the facts found by it constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health. If the hearing panel determines that the facts found constitute a clear and immediate danger to public health, the order of temporary suspension must remain in effect until the Board, pursuant to § 1734(g) of this title, deliberates and reaches conclusions of law based upon the findings of fact made by the hearing panel. An order of temporary suspension may not remain in effect for longer than 60 days from the date of the decision rendered by the hearing panel unless the suspended acupuncture practitioner requests an extension of the order pending a final decision of the Board. Upon the final decision of the Board, an order of temporary suspension is vacated as a matter of law and is replaced by the disciplinary action, if any, ordered by the Board.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 319, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 325, § 19; 78 Del. Laws, c. 44, §§ 20, 21.; § 1798A Procedure or action not described.
This subchapter governs the practice of acupuncture practitioners. If a procedure or action is not specifically prescribed in this subchapter, but is prescribed in the subchapters relating to the practice of medicine, and the procedure or action would be useful or necessary for the regulation of acupuncture practitioners, the Board may, in its discretion, proceed in a manner prescribed for physicians in the practice of medicine.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1.; § 1799 Fees; license renewal.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1.; § 1799A Current practitioners.
(a) Any acupuncture practitioner who is practicing in this State as of June 27, 2008, and has been doing so within the 12 months prior to June 27, 2008, shall be granted a license, provided they document the following:
(1) Completion of a course or evidence of passing an examination in clean needle technique; and
(2) The applicant demonstrates competence in performing acupuncture by meeting 1 of the following standards for education or training:
a. Graduation from a course of training of at least 1,800 hours in acupuncture, including 300 clinical hours, that is accredited by the ACAOM or found by the Council to be equivalent to a course approved by the ACAOM; or
b. Achievement of a diplomate in acupuncture from the NCCAOM or its equivalent organization, or achieve a passing score on an examination that is determined by the Board to be equivalent to the examination that is given by NCCAOM.
(b) Any acupuncture apprentice who was engaged in a study and training program that leads to certification as an acupuncturist by the NCCAOM, which was conducted in Delaware and was commenced a minimum of 6 months prior to June 27, 2008, and which was conducted by an acupuncturist residing and practicing in Delaware who is eligible for licensing under this subchapter, upon presenting their NCCAOM certification in acupuncture, shall be granted a license.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1.; § 1799B Exemptions.
(a) Acupuncture or supplemental techniques may be performed by a student, trainee or visiting teacher who is designated as a student, trainee or visiting teacher while participating in a course of study or training under supervision of a licensed acupuncturist in a program that the Council has recommended to the Board for approval. This includes continuing education programs and any acupuncture programs that are a recognized route to certification as an acupuncturist by the NCCAOM or any Board-approved agency.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1.; § 1799C Renewal.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1.; § 1799D Reciprocal licensing.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1.; § 1799E Prohibited acts; penalties; enforcement.
(a) No person in this State shall use the title "licensed acupuncturist" or "L. Ac.", or use in connection with that person's name any letters, words or symbols indicating or implying that the person is a licensed acupuncturist, or advertise services under the description of "licensed acupuncturist", unless that person holds a license as an acupuncturist issued pursuant to this subchapter. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent a person from providing care or performing or advertising services within the scope of that person's license.
(b) A person who, contrary to the provisions of this subchapter, practices or attempts to practice acupuncture within the State or represents that the person is an acupuncture practitioner or knowingly allows himself or herself to be represented as an acupuncture practitioner shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
76 Del. Laws, c. 261, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 101, § 1.; § 1799F Acupuncture detoxification specialist (ADS); license required.
(a) An individual who is not licensed as an acupuncturist under this subchapter shall not practice as an acupuncture detoxification specialist using the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) or equivalent organization's auricular point protocol for the purpose of treating alcoholism, nicotine dependency, substance abuse, or chemical dependency in the State without first obtaining a license issued by the Board upon the recommendation of the Council. Applications for licensure shall be upon written forms provided by the Council and Board and upon payment of a fee established by the Division of Professional Regulation. An applicant for a license to practice as an acupuncture detoxification specialist pursuant to the NADA or equivalent organization auricular point protocol in Delaware must meet the following criteria:
(2) Maintains current certification from the NADA or an equivalent organization satisfactory to the Board that meets or exceeds the standards of training set by NADA;
(3) Must provide evidence of a current license or certificate in good standing in a healthcare related profession as approved by the Council and the Board. However, individuals providing evidence of NADA certification obtained prior to the date of the enactment of this legislation shall not be required to provide evidence of licensure or certification in a healthcare profession;
(4) Performs the auricular point protocol within a state, federal, or board approved alcohol, substance abuse, or chemical dependency program or other Council and Board approved healthcare setting; and
(5) Is in good standing as defined in § 1798(a)(4)-(7) of this title.
(b) Waiver of requirements. — The Acupuncture Advisory Council, by the affirmative vote of 3 of its members and with the approval of the Board, may waive any of the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if it finds all of the following by clear and convincing evidence:
(d) ADS shall be subject to the disciplinary provisions of § 1798(e) of this title.
(e) Each license shall be renewed biennially, in such manner as is determined by the Division, and upon payment of the appropriate fee and submission of a renewal form provided by the Division and proof of current NADA or equivalent approved organization certification.
77 Del. Laws, c. 449, § 3.; Site Footer