Section 177. Practitioner-patient communication; termination of relationship

A. Communication with patients.

1. Except as provided in § 32.1-127.1:03 F of the Code of Virginia, a practitioner shall accurately inform a patient or his legally authorized representative of his professional assessment and prescribed treatment or plan of care. A practitioner shall not deliberately make a false or misleading statement regarding the practitioner's skill or the efficacy or value of a treatment, or procedure prescribed or directed by the practitioner in the treatment of any disease or condition.

2. A practitioner shall present information to a patient or his legally authorized representative in understandable terms and encourage participation in the decisions regarding the patient's care.

3. Before any acupuncture treatment or procedure is performed, informed consent shall be obtained from the patient. Practitioners shall inform patients of the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the recommended treatment that a reasonably prudent licensed acupuncturist practicing in Virginia would tell a patient. In the instance of a minor or a patient who is incapable of making an informed decision on his own behalf or is incapable of communicating such a decision due to a physical or mental disorder, the legally authorized person available to give consent shall be informed and the consent documented.

B. Termination of the practitioner/patient relationship.

1. The practitioner or the patient may terminate the relationship. In either case, the practitioner shall make a copy of the patient record available, except in situations where denial of access is allowed by law.

2. A practitioner shall not terminate the relationship or make his services unavailable without documented notice to the patient that allows for a reasonable time to obtain the services of another practitioner.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 22, Issue 01, eff. October 19, 2005.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.