2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY - Examining Boards and Professional Colleges (§§ 1 — 6033) › Chapter 6 - Medical Discipline and Licensure Board Act (§§ 131 — 135j) › Subchapter V - Final Provisions (§§ 135 — 135j) › § 135f - License—Renewal period

In order to comply with the periodic renewal procedure established for medical licenses, the Board shall regularly review the qualifications of licensees and establish the following:
(a) At the time of the periodic renewal, the Board shall require that the licensee proves, to its satisfaction, continuity in qualifications to hold a medical license. The application for license renewal shall be designed to require licensees to update and/or add information to their Board records in connection with their license and their professional activity. The application shall also require the licensee to furnish the following information to the Board:
(1) Any action taken against the licensee:
(A) By any jurisdiction or authority of the United States of America that issues licenses or authorizes the practice of medicine;
(B) by any peer reviewing entity;
(C) for any specialty certificate;
(D) by any health care organization;
(E) by any professional medical society or association;
(F) by any agency concerned with safety;
(G) by any court, and
(H) by any government agency for an act or conduct similar to the acts or conducts described in this chapter relative to the practice of medicine which constitute grounds for a disciplinary action.
(2) Any adverse judgment or settlement against the licensee that issues from a lawsuit or professional liability.
(3) Voluntary relinquishment by licensees or a voluntary limitation of any license or authorization to engage in the practice of medicine in any jurisdiction, including the military, public health agencies, or abroad.
(4) Any denial of license or authorization to practice medicine by a jurisdiction, including the military, public health agencies, or abroad.
(5) Voluntary relinquishment by a licensee of the medical team of a health care organization, or a voluntary limitation of the privileges of said organization, if the action takes place while the license is under formal or informal investigation by the organization or by a committee for any reason relative to possible medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct or physical or mental disability.
(6) Voluntary relinquishment of or self-removal from a national, Commonwealth or municipal society, association or organization if such an action takes place while the license is under formal or informal investigation by the organization or by a committee for any reason relative to possible medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct or physical or mental disability.
(7) Regardless of whether the licensee has used or has been dependent on or treated for a condition arising from the use of or dependence on alcohol, drugs, medications or any psychoactive substance during the term of record.
(8) Regardless of whether the licensee has a physical injury or mental illness or condition during the term of record which affects or interrupts his/her medical practice.
(9) Having completed continuing medical education or other means of upkeep and/or evaluation, including specialty certifications or recertifications, within the term of record.
(10) The availability to provide medical advice and expert witness services to the Medical Discipline and Licensure Board, Courts of Justice, and other agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico.
(b) The Board shall have authority to require, in its discretion, continuing medical education for the renewal of licenses and to require documentary proof of such education. A number of hours in courses of bioethics and professionalism shall be mandatory. The Board shall establish the number of hours and the procedure through regulations to that effect. The Board shall also require that schools of medicine submit evidence of their offering of mandatory courses of bioethics and professionalism in their curricula.
(c) The licensee must meet the requirement of signing the application for license renewal before witnesses; failing to provide complete and accurate information for license renewal shall constitute grounds for disciplinary actions by the Board.
(d) The Board shall establish an effective system to review renewal applications. The Board shall also have authority to initiate investigations and/or proceedings relative to disciplinary actions, based on information submitted by licensees in the course of the renewal procedure.
History —Aug. 1, 2008, No. 139, § 37, eff. Jan 1, 2009; Apr. 8, 2011, No. 57, § 6.