With the approaching end of the year, there will undoubtedly be no shortage of published lists, which are designed to summarize the events, trends and tragedies of 2009. If you live in Texas, the Austin-American state or the Houston Chronicle unfolds will most likely provide you with some reflective readings in accordance with Death of Celebrities, Fashion Faux Pas or Top Ten TV Moments. Although these parts are an interesting way to reflect on the twelve months that have just passed, the content unknowingly has a significant impact on the day they are published in the “Life” section. On the other hand, laws passed by the legislature of the state of Texas are now only beginning to influence the people of our state. Every area of political interest, from abortion to immigration into the ownership of weapons, has been affected to some extent by the decisions of our elected officials. Men and women who are members of our medical community are no exception because of the need to adapt to some changes made by the government.
These are not only medical professionals who must adhere to the expectations and restrictions imposed on them by our state government, but also lawyers who need to represent doctors and nurses before their respective councils must challenge their client. professionalism. This has resulted in multiple updates to the way in which those involved in medicine should conduct their business, with four of these new laws being as follows:
Doctors can not write their records forever. HB 732, which entered into force on September 1 of this year, requires the Medical Board to delete any record of the official complaint filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings at least five years before the records are updated. This law applies only if the complaint revealed a lack of evidence or otherwise without merit or if no action was taken against the doctor’s license. Thus, doctors will no longer have a complaint filed by a disgruntled patient, as a flaw in their file for the rest of their careers.
Lasers targeting human pores are now more closely regulated. Laser hair removal products must meet new standards in accordance with HB 449. All places must be certified by the Texas Department of Public Health Services and the laser must be operated by a doctor or someone who is acting on the direct orders of a doctor. This should be a relief for those entering the office to remove their hair with electrical impulses or potentially dangerous rays of light. You no longer need to worry that a person approaching you with these devices simply pulls out his hair as a hobby.
Texans in underserved areas of the state will have greater access to medical care. Starting from the first day of 2010, the SB 202 will allow those who are awaiting the approval of their medical license to receive a temporary license for 270 days. This license will be granted if the doctor has a good professional reputation in another state, submits to a criminal check and is sponsored by a doctor from Texas. In addition, persons acting on a temporary basis should be practiced only in a place designated by the government, as an area of shortage of medical services or as an area with insufficient medical care.
Pharmacists do not always have to decipher the illegible handwriting of a doctor. As of September 1 of this year, doctors can now delegate the right to sign a prescription of a medicinal product to a pharmacist and modify the patient’s drug therapy. This law, SB 381, can make a local Walgreen pharmacist a little more popular. However, the law may take some controversial tasks before the Medical Board of the State of Texas in the New Year. Who will be held accountable if the patient is confronted with the adverse effects of a certain dose or just the medication itself?
As with any new legislation, changes adopted by the Texas legislature in 2009 that will affect the medical community will be monitored and interpreted over the next few years. One of the ways in which laws are likely to be defined is complaints to the Medical Board of the State of Texas and case law, which leads to disputes reaching the court. When the ethics or actions of a doctor are checked for compliance with laws enacted this year, an experienced legal representation will be required. There are attorneys for any of their core practice — protecting doctors in front of the Medical Board of the State of Texas, and this first-hand knowledge is crucial. If you are a doctor in Texas and you have questions about how the work of the state legislature will affect you, or if you find that you have to respond to a complaint filed with the state medical board, you should contact a lawyer right now. Your professional future can be at stake.
