The Arizona Medical Practice Act

The Arizona Medial Practice Act regulates how physicians practice medicine.

The Medical Practice Act (MPA) was created by the Arizona Legislature in 2002. It instructs the Arizona Board of Medical Examiners to protect people via licensing and regulation of allopathic physicians, who are doctors who treat disease through the use of antibiotics. These physicians usually practice medicine in hospitals, clinics or private practices. Some examples of allopathic physicians are cardiologists, dermatologists and surgeons. The MPA established the Arizona Medical Board and set licensing standards.

Oversight

The Arizona Medical Board enforces standards and regulations of the MPA.

The Arizona Board of Medical Examiners is required to enforce the standards and regulations of the MPA as well as receive complaints that allege violations of MPA standards. Some standards include the quality of care a doctor provides to patients or the professional conduct of the doctor when treating or prescribing medications and treatments to patients. If the Board finds a violation of the MPA, it can punish the physician, even if it is a small violation that was made out of ignorance or an innocent mistake.

Charges

If state or federal laws are broken, a doctor has violated MPA standards.

If a physician violates state or federal laws, the MPA considers that be an unprofessional act. If the act in question results in felony or misdemeanor charges as a consequence of a moral mistake or mistakes relating to the practice of medicine, the physician is in violation of the MPA. A disciplinary act administered by the Arizona Medical Board, another state agency or a Federal agency may be considered unprofessional conduct.

Unprofessional

Physicians must follow a certain code of conduct.

The MPA lists several acts that are considered to be unprofessional behavior. These include false advertisements stating a cure for an incurable disease, making untrue statements with regards to the practice of medicine, false statements about medical credentials, charging an illegal fee to a patient and attempting to acquire a license by deception.

Prescription

Physicians must be responsible when writing prescriptions.

The MPA restricts a physician from prescribing himself any controlled substances. The physician cannot prescribe any immediate family members any controlled substances. A physician cannot sign blank prescription sheets for a patient.

Malpractice

Every patient must have good quality of care.

The MPA states that any gross malpractice or repeated malpractice is unprofessional. Any and all malpractice judgments will be submitted to the Board for analysis. Physicians who do not release information and records to their patients are in violation of the MPA regulations. The Board is interested in the quality of care and guides physicians to act appropriately within the medical profession.

References

• Arizona Medical Board and Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants: The Medical Practice Act
• Allopathic Physician: Healthcare Career Information
• The Official Website of the Arizona Medical Board: Statutes and Rules