Grounds for disciplinary action.

The following conduct, acts or conditions constitute grounds for disciplinary action: A. practicing physical therapy in violation of the provisions of the Physical Therapy Act or rules adopted by the board; B. practicing or offering to practice beyond the scope of physical therapy practice as defined in the Physical Therapy Act; C. obtaining or attempting to obtain a license by fraud or misrepresentation; D. engaging in or permitting the performance of negligent care by a physical therapist or by assistive personnel working under the physical therapist's supervision, regardless of whether actual injury to the patient is established; E. engaging in the performance of negligent care by a physical therapist assistant, regardless of whether actual injury to the patient is established. This includes exceeding the authority to perform tasks pursuant to the plan of care written by the supervising physical therapist; F. having been convicted of a felony in the courts of this state or any other state, territory or country, subject to the Criminal Offender Employment Act [28-2-1 to 28-2-6 NMSA 1978]. Conviction includes a finding or verdict of guilt, an admission of guilt or a plea of nolo contendere. A copy of the record of conviction, certified by the clerk of the court entering the conviction, is conclusive evidence; G. practicing as a physical therapist or working as a physical therapist assistant when physical or mental abilities are impaired by the habitual or excessive use of controlled substances, other habit-forming drugs, chemicals or alcohol; H. having had a license revoked or suspended; other disciplinary action taken; or an application for licensure refused, revoked or suspended by the proper authorities of another state, territory or country based upon acts by the licensee similar to acts described in this section. A certified copy of the record of suspension, revocation or other disciplinary action taken by the state taking the disciplinary action is conclusive evidence; I. failing to adequately supervise assistive personnel; J. engaging in sexual misconduct, including engaging in or soliciting sexual relationships with a patient, whether consensual or nonconsensual, while a physical therapist- or physical therapist assistant-patient relationship exists; or sexual harassment of a patient that includes making sexual advances, requesting sexual favors and engaging in other verbal conduct or physical contact of a sexual nature while a physical therapist- or physical therapist assistant-patient relationship exists; K. directly or indirectly requesting, receiving or participating in the dividing, transferring, assigning, rebating or refunding of an unearned fee; or profiting by means of a credit or other valuable consideration such as an unearned commission, discount or gratuity in connection with the furnishing of physical therapy services. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the members of any regularly and properly organized business entity recognized by law and comprised of physical therapists from dividing fees received for professional services among themselves as they determine by contract necessary to defray their joint operating expense; L. failing to adhere to the recognized standards of ethics of the physical therapy profession; M. charging unreasonable or fraudulent fees for services performed or not performed; N. making misleading, deceptive, untrue or fraudulent representations in the practice of physical therapy; O. having been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction; P. aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to perform activities requiring a license; Q. failing to report to the board any act or omission of a licensee, applicant or other person that violates the provisions of the Physical Therapy Act; R. interfering with or refusing to cooperate in an investigation or disciplinary proceeding of the board, including misrepresentation of facts or by the use of threats or harassment against any patient or witness to prevent them from providing evidence in a disciplinary proceeding; S. failing to maintain patient confidentiality without prior written consent or unless otherwise provided by law; T. impersonating another person licensed to practice physical therapy, permitting or allowing any person to use the physical therapist's or physical therapist assistant's license or practicing physical therapy under a false or assumed name; U. failure to report to the board the surrendering of a license or other authorization to practice physical therapy in another state or jurisdiction or the surrendering of membership in any professional association following, in lieu of or while under disciplinary investigation by any of those authorities or bodies for acts or conduct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for action as defined in this section; and V. abandonment of patients.