Section 1350.130  Dishonorable, Unethical or Unprofessional Conduct

a)         The Division may suspend or revoke a license, refuse to issue or renew a license or take other disciplinary action based upon its findings of dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct (see Section 21(a)(8) of the Act), which includes but is not limited to, the following acts or practices:

1)         Engaging in conduct likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public, or demonstrating a willful disregard for the health, welfare or safety of a patient.  Actual injury need not be established.

2)         A departure from or failure to conform to the standards of practice as set forth in the Act or this Part.  Actual injury to a patient need not be  established.

3)         Engaging in behavior that violates professional boundaries (such as signing wills or other documents not related to client health care).

4)         Engaging in sexual conduct with a patient or conduct that may reasonably be interpreted by a patient as sexual, or behavior that is sexually harassing to a patient, including any verbal behavior that is sexual harassing.

5)         Demonstrating actual or potential inability to practice with reasonable skill, safety or judgment by reason of illness, use of alcohol, drugs, chemicals or any other material or as a result of any mental or physical condition.

6)         Misrepresenting educational background, training, credentials, competence or medical staff memberships.

7)         Committing any other act or omission that breaches the physician assistant's responsibility to a patient according to accepted medical  standards of practice.

b)         The Division hereby incorporates by reference the "Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the PA Profession", 2013, American Academy of PAs, 2318 Mill Road, Suite 13600, Alexandria VA 22314, with no later amendments or editions.

c)         The Division hereby incorporates by reference the "Guidelines for the Chronic Use of Opioid Analgesics", Federation of State Medical Boards, April 2017, 400 Fuller Wiser Road, Suite 300, Euless TX 76039. No later amendments or editions       are included.

(Source:  Added at 44 Ill. Reg. 2519, effective January 31, 2020)