Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 273 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN NATUROPATHY › Title 273 CMR 5.00 - Professional and Ethical Standards of Conduct › Section 5.02 - Professional and Ethical Standards of Conduct for Naturopathic Doctors

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The standards of conduct for naturopathic doctors
				include:
(1)
Use of
			 Title
. A naturopathic doctor shall only identify himself or
			 herself as a naturopathic doctor while in possession of a current
			 license.
(2)
Misrepresentation of Credentials
. A naturopathic
			 doctor shall not misrepresent his or her credentials related to the practice of
			 naturopathic health care including, but not limited to, education, type of
			 license, professional experience, or any other credential related to his or her
			 work as a naturopathic doctor. A naturopathic doctor shall not use the term
			 physician nor assume the character or appearance of a primary care
			 provider.
(3)
Practice
			 under a False or Different Name
. A naturopathic doctor shall
			 engage in the practice of naturopathic health care only under the name in which
			 such license has been issued.
(4)
Acts within Scope of Practice
. A naturopathic doctor
			 shall only perform acts within the scope of practice of naturopathic health
			 care, as set forth in 273 CMR 4.00:
Scope of
			 Practice
.
(5)
Competency
. A naturopathic doctor shall only assume
			 those duties and responsibilities within his or her scope of practice and for
			 which he or she has acquired and maintained necessary knowledge, skills, and
			 abilities.
(6)
Responsibility and Accountability
. A naturopathic
			 doctor shall be responsible and accountable for his or her judgments, actions,
			 and competency when engaging in the practice of naturopathic health
			 care.
(7)
Documentation
. A naturopathic doctor shall make
			 complete, accurate, and legible entries in all records required by federal,
			 state and local laws and regulations.
(8)
Falsification of
			 Information
. A naturopathic doctor shall not knowingly falsify, or
			 attempt to falsify, any documentation or information related to any aspect of
			 licensure as a naturopathic doctor, the practice of naturopathic health care or
			 the delivery of naturopathic health care services.
(9)
Alteration or Destruction of
			 Records
. A naturopathic doctor shall not inappropriately destroy
			 or alter any record related to his or her work as a naturopathic
			 doctor.
(10)
Discrimination
. A naturopathic doctor shall not
			 withhold or deny care or services based on age, ancestry, marital status, sex,
			 sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, religious creed, national
			 origin, diagnosis, or mental or physical disability.
(11)
Patient Abuse, Neglect,
			 Mistreatment, or Other Harm
. A naturopathic doctor shall not
			 abuse, neglect, mistreat, or otherwise harm a patient.
(12)
Infection
			 Control
. A naturopathic doctor shall not place a patient, himself
			 or herself, or others at undue risk for the transmission of infectious
			 diseases.
(13)
Patient
			 Dignity and Privacy
. A naturopathic doctor shall safeguard a
			 patient's dignity and right to privacy.
(14)
Patient Confidential
			 Information
. A naturopathic doctor shall safeguard patient
			 information from any person or entity not entitled to such information. A
			 naturopathic doctor shall share appropriate information only as required by law
			 or authorized by the patient for the well-being or protection of the
			 patient.
(15)
Sexual
			 Contact
. A naturopathic doctor shall not have sexual contact with
			 any patient with whom he or she has a current naturopathic doctor-patient
			 relationship or with any former patient who may be vulnerable by virtue of
			 disability, age, illness, or cognitive ability.
(16)
Professional
			 Boundaries
. A naturopathic doctor shall establish and observe
			 professional boundaries with respect to any patient with whom he or she has a
			 current naturopathic doctor-patient relationship. A naturopathic doctor shall
			 continue to observe professional boundaries with his or her former patients who
			 may be vulnerable by virtue of disability, age, illness, or cognitive
			 ability.
(17)
Exercise
			 of Undue Influence
. A naturopathic doctor shall not exercise undue
			 influence on a patient, including the promotion or sale of services, goods,
			 appliances or drugs, in such a manner as to exploit the patient for financial
			 gain for the benefit of the naturopathic doctor or a third-party.
(18)
Borrowing from
			 Patients
. A naturopathic doctor shall not borrow money, materials,
			 or other property from any patient.
(19)
Undue Benefit or
			 Gain
. A naturopathic doctor shall interact with patients without
			 undue benefit or gain to the naturopathic doctor or a third-party.
(20)
Relationship Affecting
			 Professional Judgment
. A naturopathic doctor shall not initiate or
			 maintain a naturopathic doctor-patient relationship that is likely to adversely
			 affect the naturopathic doctor's professional judgment.
(21)
Advertising
. A
			 naturopathic doctor shall not engage in false, deceptive, or misleading
			 advertising related to naturopathic health care.
(22)
Fraudulent
			 Practices
. A naturopathic doctor shall not engage in any
			 fraudulent practice including, but not limited to, billing for services not
			 rendered or submitting false claims for reimbursement.
(23)
Compensation for Unlicensed
			 Services
. A naturopathic doctor shall not collect payment or
			 compensation for services rendered, and shall not bring any action in any court
			 to recover compensation for services rendered, unless he or she held a current
			 license issued by the Board at the time that the act or service was
			 provided.
(24)
Impersonation
. A naturopathic doctor shall not
			 impersonate another naturopathic doctor or other health care provider, or
			 knowingly allow or enable another person to impersonate him or her.
(25)
Aiding Unlawful
			 Activity
. A naturopathic doctor shall not aid any person in
			 performing any act prohibited by law or regulation.
(26)
Circumvention of
			 Law
. A naturopathic doctor shall not receive from, or offer, give,
			 or promise anything of value or benefit to, any official to circumvent any
			 federal, state or local laws or regulations.
(27)
Practice While
			 Impaired
. A naturopathic doctor shall not act as a naturopathic
			 doctor while impaired.
(28)
Unlawful Acquisition and Possession of Controlled
			 Substances
. A naturopathic doctor shall not unlawfully obtain or
			 possess controlled substances.
(29)
Duty to Report to the Board
. A naturopathic doctor has
			 a duty to report to the Board if he or she directly observes another
			 naturopathic doctor:
(a) abuse a
			 patient;
(b) practice naturopathic
			 health care while impaired; or
(c)
			 divert controlled substances.