Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-11. Grounds for suspension or revocation of licenses
The license of any speech-language pathologist or audiologist may be suspended or revoked by the board upon proof that he or she:
(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtained or attempted to obtain a license for the applicant, licensee, holder, or for another;
(2) Fraudulently or deceptively used a license;
(3) Altered a license;
(4) Aided or abetted unlicensed practice;
(5) Committed fraud and deceit in the practice of speech-language pathology or of audiology, including, but not limited to:
(i) Using or promoting, or causing the use of, any misleading, deceiving, or untruthful advertising matter, promotional literature, testimonial, guarantee, warranty, label, brand, insignia, or any other representation;
(ii) Falsely representing the use or availability of services or advice of a physician;
(iii) Misrepresenting the applicant, licensee, or holder by using the word “doctor” or any similar word, abbreviation, or symbol, if the use is not accurate or if the degree was not obtained from an accredited institution;
(iv) Making or filing a false report or record in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology;
(v) Submitting a false statement to collect a fee; and
(vi) Obtaining a fee through fraud or misrepresentation;
(6) Providing services while mentally incompetent;
(7) Engaging in illegal, incompetent, or habitually negligent practice;
(8) Providing professional services while:
(i) Under the influence of alcohol; or
(ii) Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance or other drug that is in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication;
(9) Promoting the sale of devices, appliances, or products to a patient who cannot benefit from these devices, appliances, or products;
(10) Violating any provision of this chapter, any lawful order given, or rule or regulation adopted by the board or departure from or failure to conform to the current standards of acceptable prevailing practice and code of ethics of speech-language pathology or audiology;
(11) Being convicted of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony, whether or not any appeal or another proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside;
(12) Incompetent or negligent misconduct in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology;
(13) Is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs;
(14) Being disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority of any other state or country, or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country, for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section; or
(15) Failing to maintain continuing education requirements.
History of Section.
P.L. 1973, ch. 143, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 329, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 366, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 33, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 39, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 400, § 12, effective July 13, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 401, § 12, effective July 13, 2021.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-11
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Audiologist: means an individual licensed by the board to practice audiology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
- Audiology: means the application of principles, methods, and procedures related to hearing and the disorders of the hearing and balance systems, to related language and speech disorders, and to aberrant behavior related to hearing loss. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
- Board: means the state board of examiners of speech-language pathology and audiology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
- Practice of speech-language pathology: means rendering or offering to render any service in speech-language pathology including prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation; determining the need for augmentative communication systems, dispensing and selling these systems, and providing training in the use of these systems; and planning, directing, conducting, or supervising programs that render or offer to render any service in speech-language pathology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
- Speech-language pathologist: means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice speech-language pathology. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1
- Speech-language pathology: means the application of principles, methods, and procedures for prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, habilitation, rehabilitation, instruction, and research related to the development and disorders of human communication. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48-1