Advertising

(1) Policy Statement. The lack of sophistication on the part of many in the health care community concerning genetic counseling, the importance of the interests affected by the choosing of genetic counselors and the foreseeable consequences of unrestricted advertising by genetic counselors which is recognized to pose special possibilities for deception, require that special care be taken by genetic counselors to avoid misleading the health care community. Genetic counselors must be mindful that the benefits of advertising depend upon its reliability and accuracy. Since advertising by genetic counselors is calculated and not spontaneous, reasonable regulation designed to foster compliance with appropriate standards serves the public interest without impeding the flow of useful, meaningful, and relevant information to the health care community. (2) Definitions (a) Advertisement – Informational communication to the health care community in any manner designed to attract attention to the genetic counselors which are licensed to practice in Tennessee. (b) Licensee - Any person holding a license as a genetic counselor in the State of Tennessee. Where applicable this shall include partnerships and/or corporations. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-13 THE PRACTICE OF GENETIC COUNSELORS (c) Material Fact - Any fact which a health care provider would need to know or rely upon in order to make an informed decision concerning the choice of genetic counselors to serve its particular needs. (d) Health Care Community – Shall mean hospitals, ambulatory surgical treatment centers, medical practices, individual physicians, and other health care providers with legal authority to utilize genetic counselors. (3) Advertising Content. The following acts or omissions in the context of advertisement by any licensee shall constitute unprofessional conduct, and subject the licensee to disciplinary action pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-6-807(b)(1), (b)(7), (b)(9), and (b)(10). (a) Claims that the services performed, personnel employed, materials or office equipment used are professionally superior to that which is ordinarily performed, employed, or used, or that convey the message that one licensee is better than another when superiority of services, personnel, materials or equipment cannot be substantiated. (b) The misleading use of an unearned or non-health degree in any advertisement. (c) Promotion of professional services which the licensee knows or should know is beyond the licensee's ability to perform. (d) Techniques of communication which intimidate, exert undue pressure or undue influence over a prospective client. (e) Any appeals to an individual's anxiety in an excessive or unfair manner. (f) The use of any personal testimonial attesting to a quality or competency of a service or treatment offered by a licensee that is not reasonably verifiable. (g) Utilization of any statistical data or other information based on past performances for prediction of future services, which creates an unjustified expectation about results that the licensee can achieve. (h) The communication of personal identifiable facts, data, or information about a patient without first obtaining patient consent. (i) Any misrepresentation of a material fact. (j) The knowing suppression, omission or concealment of any material fact or law without which the advertisement would be deceptive or misleading. (k) Statements concerning the benefits or other attributes of medical procedures or products that involve significant risks without including: 1. A realistic assessment of the safety and efficiency of those procedures or products; and 2. The availability of alternatives; and 3. Where necessary to avoid deception, descriptions or assessment of the benefits or other attributes of those alternatives. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-13 THE PRACTICE OF GENETIC COUNSELORS (l) Any communication which creates an unjustified expectation concerning the potential results of any procedure. (m) Failure to comply with the rules governing advertising records. (n) Misrepresentation of a licensee's credentials, training, experience, or ability. (o) Failure to include the corporation, partnership or individual licensee's name, address, and telephone number in any advertisement. Any corporation, partnership or association which advertises by use of a trade name or otherwise fails to list all genetic counseling personnel practicing at a particular location shall: 1. Upon request provide a list of all genetic counseling personnel practicing at that location; and 2. Maintain and conspicuously display at the licensee's office, a directory listing all genetic counseling personnel practicing at that location. (p) Failure to disclose the fact of giving compensation or anything of value to representatives of the press, radio, television or other communicative medium in anticipation of or in return for any advertisement (for example, newspaper article) unless the nature, format or medium of such advertisement make the fact of compensation apparent. (q) After thirty (30) days of the licensee’s departure, the use of the name of any genetic counseling personnel formerly practicing at or associated with any advertised location or on office signs or buildings. This rule shall not apply in the case of a retired or deceased former associate who practiced in association with one or more of the present licensees if the status of the former associate is disclosed in any advertisement or sign. (r) Stating or implying that a certain licensee provides all services when any such services are performed by another licensee. (4) Advertising Records and Responsibility (a) Each licensee who is a principal partner, or officer of a firm or entity identified in any advertisement, is jointly and severally responsible for the form and content of any advertisement. This provision shall also include any licensed professional employees acting as an agent of such firm or entity. (b) Any and all advertisements are presumed to have been approved by the licensee named therein. (c) A recording of every advertisement communicated by electronic media, and a copy of every advertisement communicated by print media, and a copy of any other form of advertisement shall be retained by the licensee for a period of two (2) years from the last date of broadcast or publication and be made available for review upon request by the Board or its designee. (d) At the time any type of advertisement is placed, the licensee must possess and rely upon information which, when produced, would substantiate the truthfulness of any assertion, omission or representation of material fact set forth in the advertisement or public information. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-13 THE PRACTICE OF GENETIC COUNSELORS (5) Severability. It is hereby declared that the sections, clauses, sentences and parts of these rules are severable, are not matters of mutual essential inducement, and any of them shall be rescinded if these rules would otherwise be unconstitutional or ineffective. If any one or more sections, clauses, sentences or parts shall for any reason be questioned in court, and shall be adjudged unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remaining provisions thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the specific provision or provisions so held unconstitutional or invalid, and the inapplicability or invalidity of any section, clause, sentence or part in any one or more instance shall not be taken to affect or prejudice in any way its applicability or validity in any other instance.