Title 12 . Professional and Vocational Regulations

Chapter 40 . Big Game Guides and Transporters

Section 967. Unprofessional conduct

12 AAC 40.967. Unprofessional conduct

For purposes of AS 08.64.240 (b) and AS 08.64.326 , "unprofessional conduct" means an act or omission by an applicant or licensee that does not conform to the generally accepted standards of practice for the profession for which the applicant seeks licensure or a permit under AS 08.64 or which the licensee is authorized to practice under AS 08.64. "Unprofessional conduct" includes the following:

(1) submitting or causing the submission of testimony, a statement, or a document for consideration by the board knowing it contained false, misleading, or omitted material information or was fraudulently obtained; for purposes of this paragraph, "document" includes an affidavit, certificate, transcript, diploma, board certification information, reference letters, or translation of a foreign language document;

(2) misrepresenting, concealing, or failing to disclose material information to

(A) obtain a license or permit under AS 08.64; or

(B) renew a license under AS 08.64;

(3) purchase, sale, barter, or alteration of a license or permit issued under AS 08.64;

(4) the use of a license or permit obtained as described in (3) of this section;

(5) committing, or attempting to commit, fraud or deception, or attempting to subvert the process relating to an examination required under AS 08.64;

(6) practicing a profession licensed under AS 08.64 without a required license or permit or with a lapsed, expired, retired, or inactive license or permit;

(7) permitting or employing an unlicensed person to practice a profession licensed under AS 08.64

(A) without the required license or permit under AS 08.64; or

(B) while the person's license or permit was revoked, suspended, surrendered, or canceled in this state;

(8) delegating professional practice responsibilities that require a license or permit under AS 08.64 to a person who does not possess the appropriate education, training, or licensure to perform the responsibilities;

(9) failing to prepare and maintain accurate, complete, and legible records in accordance with generally accepted standards of practice for each patient and to make those records available to the board and the board's representatives for inspection for investigation purposes;

(10) falsifying, intentionally making an incorrect entry, destroying, or failing to maintain patient or facility medical records for at least seven years from the date of creation of the record;

(11) failing to provide copies of complete patient records in the licensee's custody and control within 30 days after receipt of a written request from the patient or the patient's guardian;

(12) intentionally or negligently releasing or disclosing confidential patient information; this paragraph does not apply to disclosures required under state or federal law or when disclosure is necessary to prevent an imminent risk of harm to the patient or others;

(13) offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving fees or other benefits, in whole or in part, to a person for bringing in or referring a patient;

(14) harassing, disruptive, or abusive behavior by a licensee directed at staff or a patient, a patient's relative, or a patient's guardian;

(15) disruptive behavior by a licensee at the workplace that interferes with the provision of patient care;

(16) discriminating on the basis of the patient's race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex in the provision of professional services;

(17) conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude; under this paragraph, a "crime involving moral turpitude" includes the following:

(A) homicide;

(B) manslaughter;

(C) assault;

(D) stalking;

(E) kidnapping;

(F) sexual assault;

(G) sexual abuse of a minor;

(H) unlawful exploitation of a minor, including possession or distribution of child pornography;

(I) indecent exposure;

(J) unlawful distribution or possession for distribution of a controlled substance; for purposes of this subparagraph, "controlled substance" has the meaning given in AS 11.71.900 ;

(18) using alcohol or other drugs

(A) to the extent that the use interferes with professional practice functions of the licensee or endangers the safety of patients; or

(B) that is illegal under state or federal law;

(19) failing

(A) to comply with AS 08.64.336 ; or

(B) to report to the board or the board's representatives facts known to the licensee regarding incompetent, or illegal conduct by another licensee under AS 08.64, unless the licensee knows that the conduct has been already reported and the other licensee is already participating in a treatment or educational program approved by the board;

(20) failing to report to the board or the board's representatives that the licensee's hospital privileges have been denied, revoked, suspended, or limited by a hospital or other health care facility for disciplinary reasons by the physician in charge; this paragraph does not apply to a temporary suspension pending completion of medical records by the governing body of the hospital or other health care facility;

(21) facilitating the practice of a profession licensed under AS 08.64 by a person who is not licensed, incompetent, or mentally, emotionally, or physically unable to practice safely;

(22) failing to fulfill the responsibility and duties of a collaborating physician in any collaborative relationship entered into under AS 08.64 with a physician assistant;

(23) violating provisions of any disciplinary sanction issued under AS 08.64;

(24) failing to cooperate with an official investigation by the board or the board's representatives, including failing to timely provide requested information;

(25) failing to allow the board or the board's representative, upon written request, to examine and have access to records maintained by the licensee that relate to the licensee's practice under AS 08.64;

(26) failing to report to the board any disciplinary action against the licensee, taken by another licensing jurisdiction, health care entity, law enforcement agency, or any conviction of a crime referred to in AS 08.64.326 (a)(4);

(27) providing treatment, rendering a diagnosis, or prescribing medications based solely on a patient-supplied history that a physician licensed in this state received by telephone, facsimile, or electronic format;

(28) any conduct described in (1) - (27) of this section that occurred in another licensing jurisdiction and is related to the applicant's or licensee's qualifications to practice.

History: Eff. 3/16/2000, Register 153; am 9/5/2002, Register 163; am 4/2/2004, Register 169

Authority: AS 08.01.070

AS 08.64.100

AS 08.64.326

Editor's note: 12 AAC 40.967 was originally adopted, and took effect 3/16/2000, Register 153, numbered as 12 AAC 40.230. As of Register 154, July 2000, the regulations attorney relocated the provision to instead appear as 12 AAC 40.967.