Scope of practice & truth in advertising

The Academy wants to ensure that health care providers clearly and honestly state their level of training, education, and licensing. Patients deserve to have this information during face-to-face encounters, as well as when they read health care providers’ advertising, marketing, and other communications materials. However, there is a wide spectrum of training and expertise among health care professionals, whose credentials can confuse patients.

The Academy knows it can be frustrating to see non-physicians presenting themselves as skin experts, and we strongly support the physician-led, team-based model of health care delivery. It recognizes the vital role all clinicians play in the health care delivery system.

The Academy believes those who regulate and deliver medical care have an obligation to inform the public of the qualifications and limitations of the persons providing their care prior to treatment.

All health care practitioners should identify or disclose their degree or field of study, board-certification (if any), and licensure to each patient.

The Academy advocates for state truth in advertising legislation that:

• Requires all health care professionals to clearly and accurately identify themselves in all writings, advertisements, and other communications.

• Requires all health care professionals to wear, during patient encounters, a name tag that clearly identifies the type of license they hold.

• Prohibits advertisements or websites advertising health care services from including deceptive or misleading information.

• Prohibits nonphysicians from using medical titles or specialty designations traditionally reserved for and associated with licensed physicians such as the term “dermatologist.”

Academy members who have identified a potential misleading advertisement can contact the Academy by using the “Share your concerns” tab above, to learn more about filing a complaint with the respective licensing board.