An Act To Clarify Physicians' Delegation of Medical Care

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2594-A, first ¶,  as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §184, is further amended to read:

Nothing contained in this chapter may be construed to prohibit an individual from rendering medical services , if these services are rendered under the supervision and control of a physician , and if the individual has satisfactorily completed a training program approved by the Board of Osteopathic Licensure. Supervision and control may not be construed as requiring the personal presence of the supervising and controlling physician at the place where these services are rendered, unless a physical presence is necessary to provide patient care of the same quality as provided by the physician. Nothing in this chapter may be construed as prohibiting a physician from delegating to the physician's employees or support staff certain activities relating to medical care and treatment carried out by custom and usage when these activities are under the direct control of and in the personal presence of the physician. The physician delegating these activities to employees or support staff, to program graduates or to participants in an approved training program is legally liable for the activities of those individuals, and any individual in this relationship is considered the physician's agent. Nothing contained in this section may be construed to apply to registered nurses acting pursuant to chapter 31.

Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §3270-A, first ¶,  as amended by PL 1999, c. 159, §1, is further amended to read:

This chapter may not be construed to prohibit an individual from rendering medical services if these services are rendered under the supervision and control of a physician or surgeon and if that individual has satisfactorily completed a training program approved by the Board of Licensure in Medicine and a competency examination determined by this board. Supervision and control may not be construed as requiring the personal presence of the supervising and controlling physician at the place where these services are rendered, unless a physical presence is necessary to provide patient care of the same quality as provided by the physician. This chapter may not be construed as prohibiting a physician or surgeon from delegating to the physician's or surgeon's employees or support staff certain activities relating to medical care and treatment carried out by custom and usage when the activities are under the control of the physician or surgeon who must be present on the premises at the time the activities are performed. The physician delegating these activities to employees or support staff, to program graduates or to participants in an approved training program is legally liable for the activities of those individuals, and any individual in this relationship is considered the physician's agent. This section may not be construed to apply to registered nurses acting pursuant to chapter 31.

SUMMARY

This bill clarifies that a physician or surgeon may delegate to the physician's or surgeon's employees or support staff certain activities relating to medical care and treatment without being present on the premises at the time the activities are performed.