273 CMR, § 5.02 - Professional and Ethical Standards of Conduct for Naturopathic Doctors
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.
(30)
Violence. A
naturopathic doctor shall not endanger the safety of the public, patients, or
coworkers by making actual or implied threats of violence, or carrying out an
act of violence.
(31)
Compliance with Agreements and Orders. A naturopathic
doctor shall comply with all provisions contained:
(a) in any agreement he or she has entered
into with the Board; or
(b) in any
order issued to him or her by the Board.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.