Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 5-37.2 - The Practice of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Section 5-37.2-15. - Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license — Grounds.

§ 5-37.2-15. Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license — Grounds.
The department may either refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke any license for any one or any combination of the following causes:
(1) Conviction of a felony, or conviction of a violation of any state or federal law regulating the possession, distribution, or use of any controlled substance as defined in § 21-28-1.02, as shown by a certified copy of record of the court;
(2) The obtaining of, or any attempt to obtain, a license, or to practice in the profession for money or any other thing of value, by fraudulent misrepresentations;
(3) Gross malpractice;
(4) Advertising by means of knowingly false or deceptive statement;
(5) Advertising, practicing, or attempting to practice under a name other than one’s own;
(6) Habitual drunkenness or habitual addiction to the use of a controlled substance as defined in § 21-28-1.02;
(7) Using any false, fraudulent, or forged statement or document, or engaging in any fraudulent, deceitful, dishonest, immoral practice in connection with the licensing requirement of this chapter;
(8) Sustaining a physical or mental disability that renders further practice dangerous;
(9) Engaging in any dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct that may deceive, defraud, or harm the public, or that is unbecoming a person licensed to practice under this chapter;
(10) Using any false or fraudulent statement in connection with the practice of acupuncture or any branch of acupuncture;
(11) Violating, or attempting to violate, or assisting or abetting the violation of, or conspiring to violate, any provision of this chapter;
(12) Being adjudicated incompetent or insane;
(13) Advertising in an unethical or unprofessional manner;
(14) Obtaining a fee or financial benefit for any person by the use of fraudulent diagnosis, therapy, or treatment;
(15) Willfully disclosing a privileged communication;
(16) Failure of a licensee to designate his or her school of practice in the professional use of his or her name by the term “doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine”;
(17) Willful violation of the law relating to the health, safety, or welfare of the public, or of the rules and regulations promulgated by the state board of health;
(18) Administering, dispensing, or prescribing any controlled substance as defined in § 21-28-1.02, except for the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease or for relief from suffering; and
(19) Performing, assisting, or advising in the injection of any liquid silicone substance into the human body.
History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 287, § 1; P.L. 1985, ch. 181, art. 18, § 2; P.L. 2015, ch. 140, § 2; P.L. 2015, ch. 141, art. 20, § 7; P.L. 2015, ch. 150, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 62, § 2, effective June 25, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 68, § 2, effective June 25, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 400, § 10, effective July 13, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 401, § 10, effective July 13, 2021.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 5 - Businesses and Professions

Chapter 5-37.2 - The Practice of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

Section 5-37.2-1. - Legislative declaration — Acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Section 5-37.2-1.1. - Board of acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Section 5-37.2-2. - Definitions.

Section 5-37.2-2.1 - — 5-37.2-6. [Repealed.]

Section 5-37.2-7. - Powers of department.

Section 5-37.2-8. - [Repealed.]

Section 5-37.2-8.1. - License required.

Section 5-37.2-9. - Special licensing.

Section 5-37.2-10. - Application for licenses — Fees.

Section 5-37.2-11. - [Repealed.]

Section 5-37.2-12. - Issuance of licenses to practice acupuncture.

Section 5-37.2-12.1. - Examination requirements and issuance of license.

Section 5-37.2-12.2. - Reciprocal licensing requirements.

Section 5-37.2-12.3. - Continuing education for acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

Section 5-37.2-12.4. - Licensure of previously licensed doctors of acupuncture.

Section 5-37.2-13. - [Repealed.]

Section 5-37.2-14. - Recordation and display of licenses — Annual registration fee — Penalties for failure to pay fee.

Section 5-37.2-15. - Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license — Grounds.

Section 5-37.2-16. - Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license — Notice and hearing.

Section 5-37.2-17. - Applicability of chapter.

Section 5-37.2-18. - Reporting vital statistics.

Section 5-37.2-19. - Seminars not in accordance with department regulations prohibited — Penalty.

Section 5-37.2-20. - Practice without a license a misdemeanor.

Section 5-37.2-21. - Injunctive relief.

Section 5-37.2-22. - Physicians practicing acupuncture excepted.

Section 5-37.2-23. - Receipts.

Section 5-37.2-24. - Meaning of terms in existing laws.