Article 10.5 - Unprofessional Conduct

California Business and Professions Code — §§ 725-733

Sections (10)

Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 130, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.

(a)Repeated acts of clearly excessive prescribing, furnishing, dispensing, or administering of drugs or treatment, repeated acts of clearly excessive use of diagnostic procedures, or repeated acts of clearly excessive use of diagnostic or treatment facilities as determined by the standard of the community of licensees is unprofessional conduct for a physician and surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, psychologist, physical therapist, chiropractor, optometrist, speech-language pathologist, or audiologist.

(b)Any person who engages in repeated acts of clearly excessive prescribing or administering of drugs or treatment is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than six hundred dollars ($600), or by imprisonment for a term of not less than 60 days nor more than 180 days, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

(c)A practitioner who has a medical basis for prescribing, furnishing, dispensing, or administering dangerous drugs or prescription controlled substances shall not be subject to disciplinary action or prosecution under this section.

(d)No physician and surgeon shall be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to this section for treating intractable pain in compliance with Section 2241.5.

§ 726

Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 510, Sec. 3. (AB 179) Effective January 1, 2016.

(a)The commission of any act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient, client, or customer constitutes unprofessional conduct and grounds for disciplinary action for any person licensed under this division or under any initiative act referred to in this division.

(b)This section shall not apply to consensual sexual contact between a licensee and his or her spouse or person in an equivalent domestic relationship when that licensee provides medical treatment, other than psychotherapeutic treatment, to his or her spouse or person in an equivalent domestic relationship.

§ 727

Added by renumbering Section 731 by Stats. 1981, Ch. 714, Sec. 4.

The provisions of subdivision (2) of Section 1103 of the Evidence Code shall apply in disciplinary proceedings brought against a licensee for acts in violation of Section 726.

§ 728

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 778, Sec. 2.5. (AB 2968) Effective January 1, 2019.

(a)Any psychotherapist or employer of a psychotherapist who becomes aware through a client that the client had alleged sexual intercourse or alleged sexual behavior or sexual contact with a previous psychotherapist during the course of a prior treatment shall provide to the client a brochure developed pursuant to Section 337 that delineates the rights of, and remedies for, clients who have been involved sexually with their psychotherapists. Further, the psychotherapist or employer shall discuss the brochure with the client.

(b)Failure to comply with this section constitutes unprofessional conduct.

(c)For the purpose of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1)“Psychotherapist” means any of the following:

(A)A physician and surgeon specializing in the practice of psychiatry or practicing psychotherapy.

(B)A psychologist licensed pursuant to Chapter 6.6 (commencing with Section 2900).

(C)A psychological assistant.

(D)A registered psychologist.

(E)A trainee under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.

(F)A marriage and family therapist.

(G)An associate marriage and family therapist.

(H)A marriage and family therapist trainee.

(I)A licensed educational psychologist.

(J)A clinical social worker.

(K)An associate clinical social worker.

(L)A licensed professional clinical counselor.

(M)An associate professional clinical counselor, as specified in Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 4999.10).

(N)A clinical counselor trainee, as specified in Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 4999.10).

(2)“Sexual behavior” means inappropriate contact or communication of a sexual nature. “Sexual behavior” does not include the provision of

appropriate therapeutic interventions relating to sexual issues.

(3)“Sexual contact” means the touching of an intimate part of another person.

(4)“Intimate part” and “touching” have the same meanings as defined in subdivisions (g) and (e), respectively, of Section 243.4 of the Penal Code.

(5)“The course of a prior treatment” means the period of time during which a client first commences treatment for services that a psychotherapist is authorized to provide under his or her scope of practice, or that the psychotherapist represents to the client as being within his or her scope of practice, until the psychotherapist-client relationship is terminated.

§ 729

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 787, Sec. 5. (SB 775) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)Any physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor, or any person holding themselves out to be a physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor, who engages in an act of sexual intercourse, sodomy, oral copulation, or sexual contact with a patient or client, or with a former patient or client when the relationship was terminated primarily for the purpose of engaging in those acts, unless the physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor has referred the patient or client to an independent

and objective physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor recommended by a third-party physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor for treatment, is guilty of sexual exploitation by a physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor.

(b)Sexual exploitation by a physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor is a public offense:

(1)An act in violation of subdivision (a) shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period

of not more than six months, or a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

(2)Multiple acts in violation of subdivision (a) with a single victim, when the offender has no prior conviction for sexual exploitation, shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than six months, or a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

(3)An act or acts in violation of subdivision (a) with two or more victims shall be punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for a period of 16 months, two years, or three years, and a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000); or the act or acts shall be punishable by

imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than one year, or a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

(4)Two or more acts in violation of subdivision (a) with a single victim, when the offender has at least one prior conviction for sexual exploitation, shall be punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for a period of 16 months, two years, or three years, and a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000); or the act or acts shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than one year, or a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

(5)An act or acts in violation of subdivision (a) with two or more

victims, and the offender has at least one prior conviction for sexual exploitation, shall be punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for a period of 16 months, two years, or three years, and a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

For purposes of subdivision (a), in no instance shall consent of the patient or client be a defense. However, physicians and surgeons shall not be guilty of sexual exploitation for touching any intimate part of a patient or client unless the touching is outside the scope of medical examination and treatment, or the touching is done for sexual gratification.

(c)For purposes of this section:

(1)“Psychotherapist” has the same meaning as defined in Section

728.

(2)“Alcohol and drug abuse counselor” means an individual who holds themselves out to be an alcohol or drug abuse professional or paraprofessional.

(3)“Sexual contact” means sexual intercourse or the touching of an intimate part of a patient for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification, or abuse.

(4)“Intimate part” and “touching” have the same meanings as defined in Section 243.4 of the Penal Code.

(d)In the investigation and prosecution of a violation of this section, no person shall seek to obtain disclosure of any confidential files of other patients, clients, or former patients or clients of the physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst,

student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor.

(e)This section does not apply to sexual contact between a physician and surgeon and their spouse or person in an equivalent domestic relationship when that physician and surgeon provides medical treatment, other than psychotherapeutic treatment, to their spouse or person in an equivalent domestic relationship.

(f)If a physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor in a professional partnership or similar group has sexual contact with a patient in violation of this section, another physician and surgeon, psychotherapist, research psychoanalyst, student research psychoanalyst, or alcohol and drug abuse counselor in the

partnership or group shall not be subject to action under this section solely because of the occurrence of that sexual contact.

§ 730

Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1118, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1995.

Any person licensed under this division or under any initiative act referred to in this division shall not perform any medical evaluation for which the evaluator is required to be certified as a qualified medical evaluator pursuant to Section 139.2 of the Labor Code without having first obtained that certification. No person shall be in violation of this section if the person is certified as a qualified medical evaluator at the time of assignment to a three-member panel under subdivision (h) of Section 139.2 of the Labor Code or, if the injured worker is represented, if the person is certified as a qualified medical evaluator at the time the injured worker is referred for a medical evaluation. A violation of this section constitutes unprofessional conduct and grounds for disciplinary action.

§ 730.5

Added by renumbering Section 730 (as added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 400) by Stats. 1999, Ch. 83, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.

(a)It is unprofessional conduct and a crime, as provided in Section 4935, for a physician and surgeon, osteopathic physician, dentist, or podiatrist to direct or supervise the performance of acupuncture involving the application of a needle to the body of a human being by a person licensed under this division who is not licensed pursuant to the Acupuncture Licensure Act established by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 4925).

(b)It is unprofessional conduct and a crime, as provided in Section 4935, for a person licensed under this division who is not licensed pursuant to the Acupuncture Licensure Act established by Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 4925) to perform acupuncture involving the application of a needle to the body of a human being at the direction or under the supervision of a physician and surgeon, osteopathic physician, dentist, or podiatrist.

§ 731

Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 971, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1999.

(a)Any person licensed, certified, registered, or otherwise subject to regulation pursuant to this division who engages in, or who aids or abets in, a violation of Section 266h, 266i, 315, 316, or 318 of, or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647 of, the Penal Code occurring in the work premises of, or work area under the direct professional supervision or control of, that person, shall be guilty of unprofessional conduct. The license, certification, or registration of that person shall be subject to denial, suspension, or revocation by the appropriate regulatory entity under this division.

(b)In addition to any penalty provided under any other provision of law, a violation of subdivision (a) shall subject the person to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for the first offense, and not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each subsequent offense, which may be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by any district attorney. If the action is brought by a district attorney, the penalty recovered shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the judgment was entered.

§ 732

Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 765, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.

(a)A physician and surgeon and a dentist shall refund any amount that a patient has paid for services rendered that has subsequently been paid to the physician and surgeon or dentist by a third-party payor and that constitutes a duplicate payment. The refund shall be made as follows:

(1)If the patient requests a refund, within 30 days following the request from that patient for a refund if the duplicate payment has been received, or within 30 days of receipt of the duplicate payment if the duplicate payment has not been received.

(2)If the patient does not request a refund, within 90 days of the date the physician and surgeon or dentist knows, or should have known, of the receipt of the duplicate payment, the physician and surgeon or dentist shall notify the patient of the duplicate payment, and the duplicate payment shall be refunded within 30 days unless the patient requests that a credit balance be retained.

(b)Violation of this section shall constitute unprofessional conduct. Disciplinary proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Medical Practice Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2000)) or the Dental Practice Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 1600)), as applicable.

§ 733

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 135, Sec. 1. (AB 50) Effective September 26, 2025.

(a)A licentiate shall not obstruct a patient in obtaining a prescription drug or device that has been legally prescribed or ordered for that patient. A violation of this section constitutes unprofessional conduct by the licentiate and shall subject the licentiate to disciplinary or administrative action by their licensing agency.

(b)Notwithstanding any other law, a licentiate shall dispense drugs and devices, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 4024, pursuant to a lawful order or prescription unless one of the following circumstances exists:

(1)Based solely on the licentiate’s professional training and judgment,

dispensing pursuant to the order or the prescription is contrary to law, or the licentiate determines that the prescribed drug or device would cause a harmful drug interaction or would otherwise adversely affect the patient’s medical condition.

(2)The prescription drug or device is not in stock. If an order, other than an order described in Section 4019, or prescription cannot be dispensed because the drug or device is not in stock, the licentiate shall take one of the following actions:

(A)Immediately notify the patient and arrange for the drug or device to be delivered to the site or directly to the patient in a timely manner.

(B)Promptly transfer the prescription to another pharmacy known to stock the prescription

drug or device that is near enough to the site from which the prescription or order is transferred, to ensure the patient has timely access to the drug or device.

(C)Return the prescription to the patient and refer the patient. The licentiate shall make a reasonable effort to refer the patient to a pharmacy that stocks the prescription drug or device that is near enough to the referring site to ensure that the patient has timely access to the drug or device.

(3)The licentiate refuses on ethical, moral, or religious grounds to dispense a drug or device pursuant to an order or prescription. A licentiate may decline to dispense a prescription drug or device on this basis only if the licentiate has previously notified

their employer, in writing, of the drug or class of drugs to which the licentiate objects, and the licentiate’s employer can, without creating undue hardship, provide a reasonable accommodation of the licentiate’s objection. The licentiate’s employer shall establish protocols that ensure that the patient has timely access to the prescribed drug or device despite the licentiate’s refusal to dispense the prescription or order. For purposes of this section, “reasonable accommodation” and “undue hardship” shall have the same meaning as applied to those terms pursuant to subdivision (l) of Section 12940 of the Government Code.

(c)For the purposes of this section, “prescription drug or device” has the same meaning as the definition in Section 4022.

(d)This section

applies to emergency contraception drug therapy, over-the-counter contraceptives, and self-administered prescription-only hormonal contraceptives described in Section 4052.3.

(e)This section imposes no duty on a licentiate to dispense a drug or device pursuant to a prescription or order without payment for the drug or device, including payment directly by the patient or through a third-party payer accepted by the licentiate or payment of any required copayment by the patient.

(f)The notice to consumers required by Section 4122 shall include a statement that describes patients’ rights relative to the requirements

of this section.