32-2507

32-2507. Licensee profiles; civil penalty

A. The board shall make available to the public a profile of each licensee. The board shall make this information available through an internet web site and, if requested, in writing. The profile shall contain the following information:

1. A description of any conviction of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude within the last five years. For the purposes of this paragraph, a licensee is deemed to be convicted of a crime if the licensee pled guilty or was found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

2. A description of any felony charges or misdemeanor charges involving moral turpitude within the last five years to which the licensee pled no contest.

3. The number of pending complaints and final board disciplinary and nondisciplinary actions within the last five years. Information concerning pending complaints shall contain the following statement:

Pending complaints represent unproven allegations. On investigation, many complaints are found to be without merit and are dismissed.

4. All medical malpractice court judgments and all medical malpractice awards or settlements in which a payment is made to a complaining party within the last five years. Information concerning malpractice actions shall contain the following statement:

The settlement of a medical malpractice action may occur for a variety of reasons that do not necessarily reflect negatively on the professional competence or conduct of the physician assistant. A payment in settlement of a medical malpractice action does not create a presumption that medical malpractice occurred.

5. The name and location of the licensee's training and the date of graduation.

6. The licensee's primary practice location.

B. Each licensee shall submit the information required pursuant to subsection A each year as directed by the board. An applicant for licensure shall submit this information at the time of application. The applicant and licensee shall submit the information on a form prescribed by the board. A licensee shall submit immediately any changes in information required pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs 1, 2 and 4. The board shall update immediately its internet web site to reflect changes in information relating to subsection A, paragraphs 1 through 4. The board shall update the internet web site information at least annually.

C. The board shall provide each licensee with a copy of the licensee's profile and give the licensee reasonable time to correct the profile before it is available to the public.

D. It is an act of unprofessional conduct for a licensee to provide erroneous information pursuant to this section. In addition to other disciplinary action, the board may impose a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each erroneous statement.