Rhode Island § 23-74-7 - Unlicensed Health Care Practices

§ 23-74-7. Examination access of medical data.

The director may require an unlicensed practitioner to undergo a physical or psychiatric examination by a physician acceptable to the director from a list provided to the practitioner if probable cause exists to believe that allegations of misconduct against him or her are caused by an impairment which has directly affected his or her ability to conduct his or her practice professionally. In such circumstances, the director shall also be entitled to obtain confidential health care information of the practitioner without the practitioner’s consent. The director may not discriminate on the basis of disability in the administration of this section, nor subject qualified individuals with disabilities to any discrimination on the basis of a disability. All decisions of the director shall be based on the allegation of unprofessional conduct and not due to probable cause of the conduct being related to the disability of the practitioner. An unlicensed health care practitioner affected under this section shall at reasonable intervals be given an opportunity to demonstrate that the practitioner can resume the provision of health care practices with reasonable safety to clients. In any proceeding under this section, neither the record of proceedings nor the orders entered by the director shall be used against an unlicensed health care practitioner in any other proceeding.