Virginia Law

Any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed by the Board or practicing pursuant to a compact privilege, as defined in § 54.1-3486, approved by the Board shall be considered guilty of unprofessional conduct if he:

1. Engages in the practice of physical therapy under a false or assumed name or impersonates another practitioner of a like, similar or different name;

2. Knowingly and willfully commits any act which is a felony under the laws of this Commonwealth or the United States, or any act which is a misdemeanor under such laws and involves moral turpitude;

3. Aids or abets, has professional contact with, or lends his name to any person known to him to be practicing physical therapy illegally;

4. Conducts his practice in such a manner as to be a danger to the health and welfare of his patients or to the public;

5. Is unable to practice with reasonable skill or safety because of illness or substance abuse;

6. Publishes in any manner an advertisement that violates Board regulations governing advertising;

7. Performs any act likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public;

8. Violates any provision of statute or regulation, state or federal, relating to controlled substances;

9. Violates or cooperates with others in violating any of the provisions of this chapter or regulations of the Board; or

10. Engages in sexual contact with a patient concurrent with and by virtue of the practitioner/patient relationship or otherwise engages at any time during the course of the practitioner/patient relationship in conduct of a sexual nature that a reasonable patient would consider lewd and offensive.

2000, c. 688; 2001, c. 858; 2020, c. 885.