Section 43-33-18. Refusal to grant or restore licenses; discipline of licensees; suspension, revocation, or restriction of licenses; immunity for violation reporters

   (a) The board shall have authority to refuse to grant or restore a license to an applicant or to discipline a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under this chapter or any antecedent law upon a finding by the board that the licensee or applicant has:

   (1) (A) Implemented or continued a program of physical therapy treatment without consultation with an appropriate licensed practitioner of the healing arts; except that a physical therapist may implement a program of physical therapy treatment without consultation with an appropriately licensed practitioner of the healing arts when:

         (i) Services are provided for the purpose of fitness, wellness, or prevention that is not related to the treatment of an injury or ailment; or

         (ii) (I) The patient was previously diagnosed and received treatment or services for that diagnosis and the patient returns to physical therapy within 60 days of discharge from physical therapy for problems and symptoms that are related to the initial referral to the physical therapist. In such a situation the physical therapist shall notify the original referral source of the return to physical therapy within five business days; and

            (II) The physical therapist holds a master's or doctorate degree from a professional physical therapy program that is accredited by a national accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and approved by the Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy or the physical therapist has completed at least two years of practical experience as a licensed physical therapist.

If after 90 days of initiating physical therapy services the physical therapist determines that no substantial progress has been made with respect to the primary complaints of the patient, the physical therapist shall refer the patient to an appropriately licensed practitioner of the healing arts. If at any time the physical therapist has reason to believe that the patient has symptoms or conditions that require treatment or services beyond the scope of practice of the physical therapist, the physical therapist shall refer the patient to an appropriately licensed practitioner of the healing arts; or

      (B) In the case of practice as a physical therapist assistant, practiced other than under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist;

   (2) Displayed an inability or has become unable to practice as a physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type of material, or as a result of any mental or physical condition:

      (A) In enforcing this paragraph the board may, upon reasonable grounds, require a licensee or applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination by an appropriate practitioner of the healing arts designated by the board. The expense of such mental or physical examination shall be borne by the licensee or applicant. The results of such examination shall be admissible in any hearing before the board, notwithstanding any claim of privilege under a contrary rule of law or statute, including, but not limited to Code Section 24-5-501. Every person who shall accept the privilege of practicing physical therapy in this state or who shall file an application for a license to practice physical therapy in this state shall be deemed to have given his or her consent to submit to such mental or physical examination and to have waived all objections to the admissibility of the results in any hearing before the board upon the grounds that the same constitutes a privileged communication. If a licensee or applicant fails to submit to such an examination when properly directed to do so by the board, unless such failure was due to circumstances beyond his or her control, the board may enter a final order upon proper notice, hearing, and proof of such refusal. Any licensee or applicant who is prohibited from practicing physical therapy under this paragraph shall at reasonable intervals be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate to the board that he or she can resume or begin the practice of physical therapy with reasonable skill and safety to patients;

      (B) For the purposes of this paragraph, the board may, upon reasonable grounds, obtain any and all records relating to the mental or physical condition of a licensee or applicant, including psychiatric records; and such records shall be admissible in any hearing before the board, notwithstanding any privilege under a contrary rule of law or statute, including, but not limited to, Code Section 24-5-501. Every person who shall accept the privilege of practicing physical therapy in this state or who shall file an application to practice physical therapy in this state shall be deemed to have given his or her consent to the board's obtaining any such records and to have waived all objections to the admissibility of such records in any hearing before the board upon the grounds that the same constitute a privileged communication; and

      (C) If any licensee or applicant could, in the absence of this paragraph, invoke a privilege to prevent the disclosure of the results of the examination provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph or the records relating to the mental or physical condition of such licensee or applicant obtained pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, all such information shall be received by the board in camera and shall not be disclosed to the public, nor shall any part of the record containing such information be used against any licensee or applicant in any other type of proceeding;

   (3) Been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude in the courts of this state, the United States, or the conviction of an offense in another jurisdiction which if committed in this state would be deemed a felony. For the purpose of this Code section, a "conviction" shall include a finding or verdict of guilty, a plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere in a criminal proceeding regardless of whether the adjudication of guilt or sentence is withheld or not entered thereon pursuant to the provisions of Code Sections 42-8-60 through 42-8-64, relating to first offenders, or any comparable rule or statute;

   (4) Knowingly made misleading, deceptive, untrue, or fraudulent representations to a patient, consumer, or other person or entity in connection with the practice of physical therapy or in any document connected therewith; practiced fraud or deceit or intentionally made any false statement in obtaining or attempting to obtain a license to practice physical therapy or as a physical therapist assistant; or made a false or deceptive biennial registration with the board;

   (5) Practiced physical therapy contrary to this Code section or to the rules and regulations of the board; knowingly aided, assisted, procured, or advised any person to practice physical therapy contrary to this Code section or to the rules and regulations of the board; or knowingly performed any act which in any way aids, assists, procures, advises, or encourages any unlicensed person to practice physical therapy;

   (6) Engaged in any unprofessional, unethical, deceptive, or deleterious conduct or practice harmful to the public, which conduct or practice need not have resulted in actual injury to any person; unprofessional conduct shall also include any departure from, or the failure to conform to, the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing physical therapy practice or the failure to comply with the code of ethics of the board;

   (7) Failed to report to the board any act or omission of a licensee or applicant or any other person which violates the provisions of this subsection; or

   (8) Divided fees or agreed to divide fees received for professional services with any person, firm, association, corporation, or other entity for bringing or referring a patient.

(b) (1) When the board finds that any person is unqualified to be granted a license or finds that any person should be disciplined pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section, the board may take any one or more of the following actions:

      (A) Refuse to grant or restore a license to an applicant;

      (B) Administer a public or private reprimand, but a private reprimand shall not be disclosed to any person except the licensee;

      (C) Suspend any license for a definite period;

      (D) Limit or restrict any license;

      (E) Revoke any license;

      (F) Condition the penalty or withhold formal disposition, upon the physical therapist's, physical therapist assistant's, or other person's submission to the care, counseling, or treatment of physicians or other professional persons, and the completion of such care, counseling, or treatment, as directed by the board; or

      (G) Impose a fine not to exceed $500.00 for each violation of law, rule, or regulation of the board.

   (2) In addition to or in conjunction with the actions enumerated pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection the board may make a finding adverse to the licensee or applicant but withhold imposition of judgment and penalty, or it may impose the judgment and penalty but suspend enforcement thereof and place the licensee or applicant on probation, which probation may be vacated upon noncompliance with such reasonable terms as the board may impose.

(c) In its discretion, the board may restore and reissue a license issued under this chapter or any antecedent law and, as a condition thereof, it may impose any disciplinary or corrective measure provided in this chapter.

(d) A person, firm, corporation, association, authority, or other entity shall be immune from civil and criminal liability for reporting the acts or omissions of a licensee or applicant which violate the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section or any other provision of law relating to a licensee's or applicant's fitness to practice as a physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant, if such report is made in good faith without fraud or malice. Any person who testifies without fraud or malice before the board in any proceeding involving a violation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section or any other law relating to a licensee's or applicant's fitness to practice as a physical therapist or as a physical therapist assistant shall be immune from civil and criminal liability for so testifying.

Ga. L. 1951, p. 175, § 10; Ga. L. 1972, p. 388, § 20; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1416, §§ 8, 17; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2434, § 12; Ga. L. 1993, p. 91, § 43; Ga. L. 1997, p. 715, § 1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 501, § 1/HB 801; Ga. L. 2008, p. 324, § 43/SB 455; Ga. L. 2011, p. 99, § 73/HB 24.