18.06.140 - Consultation and referral to other health care practitioners.

Consultation and referral to other health care practitioners.

(1) Every person licensed under this chapter shall develop a written plan for consultation, emergency transfer, and referral to other health care practitioners operating within the scope of their authorized practices. The written plan shall be submitted with the initial application for licensure as well as annually thereafter with the license renewal fee to the department. The department may withhold licensure or renewal of licensure if the plan fails to meet the standards contained in rules adopted by the secretary.

     (2) When a person licensed under this chapter sees patients with potentially serious disorders such as cardiac conditions, acute abdominal symptoms, and such other conditions, the practitioner shall immediately request a consultation or recent written diagnosis from a primary health care provider licensed under chapter 18.71, 18.57, 18.57A, 18.36A, or 18.71A RCW or RCW 18.79.050. In the event that the patient with the disorder refuses to authorize such consultation or provide a recent diagnosis from such primary health care provider, East Asian medical treatments, including acupuncture, may only be continued after the patient signs a written waiver acknowledging the risks associated with the failure to pursue treatment from a primary health care provider. The waiver must also include: (a) An explanation of an East Asian medicine practitioner's scope of practice, including the services and techniques East Asian medicine practitioners are authorized to provide and (b) a statement that the services and techniques that an East Asian medicine practitioner is authorized to provide will not resolve the patient's underlying potentially serious disorder. The requirements of the waiver shall be established by the secretary in rule.

     (3) A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

[2010 c 286 § 9; 2003 c 53 § 122; 1995 c 323 § 12; 1991 c 3 § 14; 1985 c 326 § 14.]

Notes: Intent -- Effective date -- 2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.