Florida Senate - 2013                                     SB 612
       
       
       
       By Senator Galvano
       
       
       
       
       26-00346A-13                                           2013612__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to health care practitioners; amending
    3         s. 456.072, F.S.; requiring that certain health care
    4         practitioners make specified disclosures when
    5         presenting themselves as “Doctor” or “Dr.”; creating
    6         s. 456.0675, F.S.; providing criminal penalties for
    7         violations if there is an intent to mislead; providing
    8         an effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Paragraph (oo) is added to subsection (1) of
   13  section 456.072, Florida Statutes, to read:
   14         456.072 Grounds for discipline; penalties; enforcement.—
   15         (1) The following acts shall constitute grounds for which
   16  the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) may be
   17  taken:
   18         (oo) Presenting oneself with the title of “Doctor” or the
   19  abbreviation “Dr.” as a name prefix by a person licensed under
   20  chapter 464, whether orally or in writing, while rendering or
   21  advertising health care services, without disclosing that the
   22  licensee is not a medical doctor or an osteopathic physician.
   23         Section 2. Section 456.0675, Florida Statutes, is created
   24  to read:
   25         456.0675 Penalty for misleading identification by a health
   26  care practitioner.—In addition to, or in lieu of, any other
   27  discipline imposed pursuant to s. 456.072, presenting oneself
   28  with the title of “Doctor” or the abbreviation “Dr.” as a name
   29  prefix by a person licensed under chapter 464, while rendering
   30  or advertising health care services, without disclosing that the
   31  licensee is not a medical doctor or an osteopathic physician,
   32  and having intent to mislead, constitutes a felony of the third
   33  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.
   34  775.084.
   35         Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2013.