By Mr. Kennedy of Brockton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2133) of Thomas P. Kennedy relative to the imposition of a penalty for impersonating a medical professional.  Public Health.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Thomas P. Kennedy

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to truth in advertising.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1            Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary it shall be unlawful for any person who is not a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of dental medicine to make any statement, or engage in any act, that deceives or misleads the public or a prospective or current patient that such person is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine or has the same or equivalent education skills or training.  Such deceptive or misleading statements or acts shall include advertising in any medium, making false statement regarding the education, skills, training or licensure of such person or in any other way describing such person’s profession, skills, training experience, education or licensure in a fashion that causes the public, a potential patient or current patient to believe that such person is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine.

Section 2.               The attorney general shall develop fines and penalties for violation of section 1 of this act.