ABC Model Practice Act

(a) The Department may refuse to issue or renew a license, may revoke or suspend a license, or may suspend, place on probation, censure or reprimand a licensee for one or any combination of the following:

(1) Making a material misstatement in furnishing information to the Department or the Board.

(2) Violations of or negligent or intentional disregard of this Act or its Rules.

(3) Conviction of any crime that under the laws of the United States or of a state or territory of the United States is a felony or a misdemeanor, an essential element of which is dishonesty, or of a crime that is directly related to the practice of the profession.

(4) Making a misrepresentation for the purpose of obtaining a license.

(5) A pattern of practice or other behavior that demonstrates incapacity or incompetence to practice under this Act.

(6) Gross negligence under this Act.

(7) Aiding or assisting another person in violating a provision of this Act or its Rules.

(8) Failing to provide information within 60 days in response to a written request made by the Department.

(9) Engaging in dishonorable, unethical or unprofessional conduct or conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public.

(10) The use of illegal drugs and/or any legally controlled substances resulting in the impairment of his/her professional judgment and/or ability to provide services.

(11) Discipline by another state or territory of the United States, the federal government or foreign nation, if at least one of the grounds for the discipline is the same or substantially equivalent to one set forth in this Section.

(12) Directly or indirectly giving to or receiving from a person, firm, corporation, partnership or association a fee, commission, rebate or other form of compensation for professional services not actually or personally rendered.

(13) A finding by the Board that the licensee, after having his or her license placed on probationary status, has violated the terms of probation.

(14) Abandonment of a patient or client, as defined by the Board.

(15) Willfully making or filing false records or reports in his or her practice including, but not limited to, false records filed with State agencies or departments.

(16) Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.

(17) Willfully failing to report an instance of suspected elder abuse or neglect as required by the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act.

(18) Solicitation of professional services using false or misleading advertising.

(b) The determination by a circuit court that a licensee is subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission, as provided in the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, operates as an automatic suspension. The suspension will end only upon:

(1) A finding by a court that the patient is no longer subject to involuntary admission or judicial admission and the issuance of a court order so finding and discharging the patient; and

(2) The recommendation of the Board that the licensee be allowed to resume his or her practice.

(c) In enforcing this Section, the Department or Board upon a showing of a possible violation may compel an individual licensed to practice under this Act, or who has applied for licensure under this Act, to submit to a mental or physical examination, or both, as required by and at the expense of the Department. The Department or Board may order the examining physician to present testimony concerning the mental or physical examination of the licensee or applicant. No information shall be excluded by reason of any common law or statutory privilege relating to communications between the licensee or applicant and the examining physician. The examining physician shall be specifically designated by the Board or Department. The individual to be examined may have, at his or her own expense, another physician of his or her choice present during all aspects of this examination. The examination shall be performed by a physician licensed to practice medicine. Failure of an individual to submit to a mental or physical examination, when directed, shall be grounds for suspension of his or her license, or denial of his or her license, until the individual submits to the examination if the Department finds, after notice and hearing, that the refusal to submit to the examination was without reasonable cause.

(d) If the Department or Board finds an individual unable to practice because of the reasons set forth in this Section, the Department or Board may require that individual to submit to care, counseling or treatment by physicians approved or designated by the Department or Board, as a condition, term or restriction for continued, reinstated or renewed licensure to practice; or, in lieu of care, counseling or treatment, the Department may file, or the Board may recommend to the Department to file, a complaint to immediately suspend, revoke or otherwise discipline the license of the individual. An individual whose license was granted, continued, reinstated, renewed, disciplined or supervised subject to such terms, conditions or restrictions and who fails to comply with such terms, conditions or restrictions, shall be referred to the Director for a determination as to whether the individual shall have his or her license suspended immediately, pending a hearing by the Department.

(e) In instances in which the Director immediately suspends a person's license under this Section, a hearing on that person's license must be convened by the Department within 30 days after the suspension and completed without appreciable delay. The Department and Board shall have the authority to review the subject individual's record of treatment and counseling regarding the impairment to the extent permitted by applicable federal statutes and regulations safeguarding the confidentiality of medical records.

(f) An individual licensed under this Act and affected under this Section shall be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the Department or Board that he or she can resume practice in compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of his or her license.