Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 263 CMR - BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS › Title 263 CMR 5.00 - Scope of Practice, Employment of Physician Assistants and Standards of Conduct › Section 5.09 - Standards of Conduct for Physician Assistants

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
The Standards of Conduct for physician assistants in
				Massachusetts include the following:
(1)
Use of Title
. A
			 physician assistant shall only identify himself or herself as a physician
			 assistant while in possession of a current license;
(2)
Misrepresentation of
			 Credentials
. A physician assistant shall not misrepresent his or
			 her credentials related to the practice of physician assistants including, but
			 not limited to, education, type of license, professional experience, or any
			 other credential related to his or her work as a physician assistant.
(3)
Practice under a False or
			 Different Name
. A physician assistant may practice as a physician
			 assistant only under the name in which such license has been issued.
(4)
Acts within Scope of
			 Practice
. A physician assistant shall only perform acts within the
			 scope of practice of a physician assistant as defined in M.G.L. c. 112,
			 §§ 9E through 9J, and
			 263 CMR 5.00.
(5)
Competency
. A
			 physician assistant 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
. Notwithstanding
			 263 CMR
			 5.08, a physician assistant shall be
			 responsible and accountable for his or her own judgments, actions, and
			 competency in the course of performing his or her duties as a physician
			 assistant with respect to any matter before the Board.
(7)
Documentation
. A
			 physician assistant shall make complete, accurate, and legible entries in all
			 records required by federal, state and local laws and regulations.
(8)
Falsification of
			 Information
. A physician assistant shall not knowingly falsify, or
			 attempt to falsify, any documentation or information related to any aspect of
			 licensure as a physician assistant, practice as a physician assistant or the
			 delivery of medical services.
(9)
Alteration or Destruction of Records
. A physician
			 assistant shall not inappropriately destroy or alter any record related to his
			 or her work as a physician assistant.
(10)
Discrimination
.
			 A physician assistant 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
			 physician assistant shall not abuse, neglect, mistreat, or otherwise harm a
			 patient.
(12)
Infection
			 Control
. A physician assistant 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 physician assistant shall safeguard a
			 patient's dignity and right to privacy.
(14)
Patient Confidential
			 Information
. A physician assistant shall safeguard patient
			 information from any person or entity, not entitled to such information. A
			 physician assistant 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 physician assistant shall not have sexual contact with
			 any patient with whom he or she has a current physician assistant/patient
			 relationship or with any former patient who may be vulnerable by virtue of
			 disability, age, illness, or cognitive ability.
(16)
Professional
			 Boundaries
. A physician assistant shall establish and observe
			 professional boundaries with respect to any patient with whom he or she has a
			 current physician assistant/patient relationship. A physician assistant 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 physician assistant 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 of the physician assistant or a third party.
(18)
Borrowing From
			 Patients
. A physician assistant shall not borrow money, materials,
			 or other property from any patient.
(19)
Undue Benefit or
			 Gain
. A physician assistant shall interact with patients without
			 undue benefit or gain to the physician assistant or a third party.
(20)
Relationship Affecting
			 Professional Judgment
. A physician assistant shall not initiate or
			 maintain a physician assistant/patient relationship that is likely to adversely
			 affect the physician assistant's professional judgment.
(21)
Advertising
. A
			 physician assistant shall not engage in false, deceptive, or misleading
			 advertising related to his or her practice as a physician assistant.
(22)
Fraudulent
			 Practices
. A physician assistant shall not engage in any
			 fraudulent practice including, but not limited to, billing for services not
			 rendered or submitting false claims for reimbursement.
(23)
Impersonation
.
			 A physician assistant shall not impersonate another physician assistant or
			 other health care provider, or knowingly allow or enable another person to
			 impersonate him or her.
(24)
Aiding Unlawful Activity
. A physician assistant shall
			 not aid any person in performing any act prohibited by law or
			 regulation.
(25)
Circumvention of Law
. A physician assistant 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.
(26)
Practice While Impaired
. A physician assistant shall
			 not act as a physician assistant while impaired.
(27)
Unlawful Acquisition and
			 Possession of Controlled Substances
. A physician assistant shall
			 not unlawfully obtain or possess controlled substances.
(28)
Duty to Report to the
			 Board
. A physician assistant has a duty to report to the Board if
			 he or she directly observes another physician assistant or health care
			 professional:
(a) abuse a patient;
(b) practice as a physician assistant while
			 impaired by substance use;
(c)
			 divert of controlled substances.