448.115(1)(1) A physician who has reason to believe any of the following about another physician shall promptly submit a written report to the board that shall include facts relating to the conduct of the other physician:
448.115(1)(a)
(a) The other physician is engaging or has engaged in acts that constitute a pattern of unprofessional conduct.
448.115(1)(b)
(b) The other physician is engaging or has engaged in an act that creates an immediate or continuing danger to one or more patients or to the public.
448.115(1)(c)
(c) The other physician is or may be medically incompetent.
448.115(1)(d)
(d) The other physician is or may be mentally or physically unable safely to engage in the practice of medicine or surgery.
448.115(2)
(2) No physician who reports to the board under
sub. (1) may be held civilly or criminally liable or be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for reporting in good faith.
448.115 History
History: 2009 a. 382.
448.12
448.12
Malpractice. Anyone practicing medicine, surgery, osteopathy, or any other form or system of treating the sick without having a license or a certificate of registration shall be liable to the penalties and liabilities for malpractice; and ignorance shall not lessen such liability for failing to perform or for negligently or unskillfully performing or attempting to perform any duty assumed, and which is ordinarily performed by authorized practitioners.
448.12 History
History: 1975 c. 383,
421.
448.13
448.13
Biennial training requirement. 448.13(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), each physician shall, in each 2nd year at the time of application for a certificate of registration under
s. 448.07, submit proof of attendance at and completion of all of the following:
448.13(1)(a)1.
1. Continuing education programs or courses of study approved for at least 30 hours of credit by the board within the 2 calendar years preceding the calendar year for which the registration is effective.
448.13(1)(a)2.
2. Professional development and maintenance of certification or performance improvement or continuing medical education programs or courses of study required by the board by rule under
s. 448.40 (1) and completed within the 2 calendar years preceding the calendar year for which the registration is effective.
448.13(1)(b)
(b) The board may waive any of the requirements under
par. (a) if it finds that exceptional circumstances such as prolonged illness, disability or other similar circumstances have prevented a physician from meeting the requirements.
448.13(1m)
(1m) The board shall, on a random basis, verify the accuracy of proof submitted by physicians under
sub. (1) (a) and may, at any time during the 2 calendar years specified in
sub. (1) (a), require a physician to submit proof of any continuing education, professional development, and maintenance of certification or performance improvement or continuing medical education programs or courses of study that he or she has attended and completed at that time during the 2 calendar years.
448.13(2)
(2) Each person licensed as a perfusionist shall, in each 2nd year at the time of application for a certificate of registration under
s. 448.07, submit proof of completion of continuing education requirements promulgated by rule by the board.
448.13(3)
(3) Each person licensed as an anesthesiologist assistant shall, in each 2nd year at the time of application for a certificate of registration under
s. 448.07, submit proof of meeting the criteria for recertification by the National Commission on Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants or by a successor entity, including any continuing education requirements.
448.13 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also
Med, Wis. adm. code.
448.14
448.14
Annual report. Annually, no later than March 1, the board shall submit to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3) a report that identifies the average length of time to process a disciplinary case against a physician during the preceding year and the number of disciplinary cases involving physicians pending before the board on December 31 of the preceding year.
448.14 History
History: 1997 a. 311.
448.20
448.20
Council on physician assistants; duties. 448.20(1)(1)
Recommend licensing and practice standards. The council on physician assistants shall develop and recommend to the examining board licensing and practice standards for physician assistants. In developing the standards, the council shall consider the following factors: an individual's training, wherever given; experience, however acquired, including experience obtained in a hospital, a physician's office, the armed services or the federal health service of the United States, or their equivalent as found by the examining board; and education, including that offered by a medical school and the technical college system board.
448.20(2)
(2) Advise board of regents. The council shall advise and cooperate with the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin System in establishing an educational program for physician assistants on the undergraduate level. The council shall suggest criteria for admission requirements, program goals and objectives, curriculum requirements, and criteria for credit for past educational experience or training in health fields.
448.20(3)
(3) Advise board. The council shall advise the board on:
448.20(3)(a)
(a) Revising physician assistant licensing and practice standards and on matters pertaining to the education, training and licensing of physician assistants.
448.20(3)(b)
(b) Developing criteria for physician assistant training program approval, giving consideration to and encouraging utilization of equivalency and proficiency testing and other mechanisms whereby full credit is given to trainees for past education and experience in health fields.
448.20(4)
(4) Adhere to program objectives. In formulating standards under this section, the council shall recognize that an objective of this program is to increase the existing pool of health personnel.
448.21
448.21
Physician assistants. 448.21(1)
(1)
Prohibited practices. No physician assistant may provide medical care, except routine screening, in:
448.21(1)(a)
(a) The practice of dentistry or dental hygiene within the meaning of
ch. 447.
448.21(1)(c)
(c) The practice of chiropractic within the meaning of
ch. 446.
448.21(1)(e)
(e) The practice of acupuncture within the meaning of
ch. 451.
448.21(2)
(2) Employee status. No physician assistant may be self-employed. The employer of a physician assistant shall assume legal responsibility for any medical care provided by the physician assistant during the employment. The employer of a physician assistant, if other than a licensed physician, shall provide for and not interfere with supervision of the physician assistant by a licensed physician.
448.21(3)
(3) Prescriptive authority. A physician assistant may issue a prescription order for a drug or device in accordance with guidelines established by a supervising physician and the physician assistant and with rules promulgated by the board. If any conflict exists between the guidelines and the rules, the rules shall control.
448.22
448.22
Anesthesiologist assistants. 448.22(1)
(1) In this section, "supervision" means the use of the powers of direction and decision to coordinate, direct, and inspect the accomplishments of another, and to oversee the implementation of the anesthesiologist's intentions.
448.22(2)
(2) An anesthesiologist assistant may assist an anesthesiologist in the delivery of medical care only under the supervision of an anesthesiologist and only as described in a supervision agreement between the anesthesiologist assistant and an anesthesiologist who represents the anesthesiologist assistant's employer. The supervising anesthesiologist shall be immediately available in the same physical location or facility in which the anesthesiologist assistant assists in the delivery of medical care such that the supervising anesthesiologist is able to intervene if needed.
448.22(3)
(3) A supervision agreement under
sub. (2) shall do all of the following:
448.22(3)(b)
(b) Define the practice of the anesthesiologist assistant consistent with
subs. (2),
(4), and
(5).
448.22(4)
(4) An anesthesiologist assistant's practice may not exceed his or her education and training, the scope of practice of the supervising anesthesiologist, and the practice outlined in the anesthesiologist assistant supervision agreement. A medical care task assigned by the supervising anesthesiologist to the anesthesiologist assistant may not be delegated by the anesthesiologist assistant to another person.
448.22(5)
(5) An anesthesiologist assistant may assist only the supervising anesthesiologist in the delivery of medical care and may perform only the following medical care tasks as assigned by the supervising anesthesiologist:
448.22(5)(a)
(a) Developing and implementing an anesthesia care plan for a patient.
448.22(5)(b)
(b) Obtaining a comprehensive patient history and performing relevant elements of a physical exam.
448.22(5)(c)
(c) Pretesting and calibrating anesthesia delivery systems and obtaining and interpreting information from the systems and from monitors.
448.22(5)(d)
(d) Implementing medically accepted monitoring techniques.
448.22(5)(e)
(e) Establishing basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea and performing ventilatory support.
448.22(5)(f)
(f) Administering intermittent vasoactive drugs and starting and adjusting vasoactive infusions.
448.22(5)(g)
(g) Administering anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs, and accessory drugs.
448.22(5)(h)
(h) Implementing spinal, epidural, and regional anesthetic procedures.
448.22(5)(i)
(i) Administering blood, blood products, and supportive fluids.
448.22(5)(j)
(j) Assisting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation team in response to a life threatening situation.
448.22(5)(k)
(k) Participating in administrative, research, and clinical teaching activities specified in the supervision agreement.
448.22(5)(L)
(L) Supervising student anesthesiologist assistants.
448.22(6)
(6) An anesthesiologist who represents an anesthesiologist assistant's employer shall review a supervision agreement with the anesthesiologist assistant at least annually. The supervision agreement shall be available for inspection at the location where the anesthesiologist assistant practices. The supervision agreement may limit the practice of an anesthesiologist assistant to less than the full scope of practice authorized under
sub. (5).
448.22(7)
(7) An anesthesiologist assistant shall be employed by a health care provider, as defined in
s. 655.001 (8), that is operated in this state for the primary purpose of providing the medical services of physicians or that is an entity described in
s. 655.002 (1) (g),
(h), or
(i). If an anesthesiologist assistant's employer is not an anesthesiologist, the employer shall provide for, and not interfere with, an anesthesiologist's supervision of the anesthesiologist assistant.
448.22(8)
(8) A student in an anesthesiologist assistant training program may assist only an anesthesiologist in the delivery of medical care and may perform only medical care tasks assigned by the anesthesiologist. An anesthesiologist may delegate the supervision of a student in an anesthesiologist assistant training program to only a qualified anesthesiologist, an anesthesiology fellow, an anesthesiology resident who has completed his or her first year of residency, or an anesthesiologist assistant, but in no case may an anesthesiologist concurrently supervise, either directly or as a delegated act, more than 2 students in training to be an anesthesiologist assistant. This section shall not be interpreted to limit the number of other qualified anesthesia providers an anesthesiologist may supervise. A student in an anesthesiologist assistant training program shall be identified as a student anesthesiologist assistant or an anesthesiologist assistant student and may not be identified as an "intern," "resident," or "fellow."
448.22 History
History: 2011 a. 160.
448.23
448.23
Council on anesthesiologist assistants. The council on anesthesiologist assistants shall guide, advise, and make recommendations to the board regarding the scope of anesthesiologist assistant practice and promote the safe and competent practice of anesthesiologist assistants in the delivery of health care services.
448.23 History
History: 2011 a. 160.
448.30
448.30
Information on alternate modes of treatment. Any physician who treats a patient shall inform the patient about the availability of all alternate, viable medical modes of treatment and about the benefits and risks of these treatments. The physician's duty to inform the patient under this section does not require disclosure of:
448.30(1)
(1) Information beyond what a reasonably well-qualified physician in a similar medical classification would know.
448.30(2)
(2) Detailed technical information that in all probability a patient would not understand.
448.30(3)
(3) Risks apparent or known to the patient.
448.30(4)
(4) Extremely remote possibilities that might falsely or detrimentally alarm the patient.
448.30(5)
(5) Information in emergencies where failure to provide treatment would be more harmful to the patient than treatment.
448.30(6)
(6) Information in cases where the patient is incapable of consenting.
448.30 History
History: 1981 c. 375.
448.30 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
Med 18, Wis. adm. code.
448.30 Annotation
A one to three in 100 chance of a condition's existence is not an "extremely remote possibility" under sub. (4) when very serious consequences could result if the condition is present. Martin v. Richards,
192 Wis. 2d 156,
531 N.W.2d 70 (1995).
448.30 Annotation
A doctor has a duty under this section to advise of alternative modes of diagnosis as well as of alternative modes of treatment for diagnosed conditions. Martin v. Richards,
192 Wis. 2d 156,
531 N.W.2d 70 (1995).
448.30 Annotation
What constitutes informed consent emanates from what a reasonable person in the patient's position would want to know. What a physician must disclose is contingent on what a reasonable person would need to know to make an informed decision. When different physicians have substantially different success rates with a procedure and a reasonable person would consider that information material, a court may admit statistical evidence of the relative risk. Johnson v. Kokemoor,
199 Wis. 2d 615,
545 N.W.2d 495 (1996),
93-3099.
448.30 Annotation
A hospital does not have the duty to ensure that a patient has given informed consent to a procedure performed by an independent physician. Mathias v. St. Catherine's Hospital, Inc.
212 Wis. 2d 540,
569 N.W.2d 330 (Ct. App. 1997),
96-1632.
448.30 Annotation
The onset of a procedure does not categorically foreclose withdrawal of a patient's consent. Withdrawal of consent removes the doctor's authority to continue and obligates the doctor to conduct another informed consent discussion. If the patient's choice of treatment, based on disclosure of all pertinent information to the patient, is known, the objective test of what a reasonable person would have chosen is not relevant. Schreiber v. Physicians Insurance Co.
223 Wis. 2d 417,
588 N.W.2d 26 (Ct. App. 1999),
96-3676.
448.30 Annotation
As a general rule, patients have a duty to exercise ordinary care for their own health. Under limited, enumerated circumstances, contributory negligence may be a defense in an informed consent case. A doctor is not restricted to only the defenses listed under this section, but a court should be cautious in giving instructions on nonstatutory defenses. Brown v. Dibbell,
227 Wis. 2d 28,
595 N.W.2d 358 (1999),
97-2181.
448.30 Annotation
In the absence of a persistent vegetative state, the right of a parent to withhold life-sustaining treatment from a child does not exist and the need for informed consent is not triggered when life-sustaining treatment is performed. Montalvo v. Borkovec,
2002 WI App 147,
256 Wis. 2d 472,
647 N.W.2d 413,
01-1933.
448.30 Annotation
A chiropractor has a duty of informed consent to make such disclosures as will enable a reasonable person under the circumstances confronting the patient to exercise the right to consent to or to refuse the procedure proposed or to request an alternative treatment or method of diagnosis. Hannemann v. Boyson,
2005 WI 94,
282 Wis. 2d 664,
698 N.W.2d 714,
03-1527.
448.30 Annotation
A patient's consent to treatment is not categorically immutable once it has been given. A physician must initiate a new informed consent discussion when there is a substantial change in circumstances, be it medical or legal. Here, the decedent's postoperative complications did not at some point became a substantial change in medical circumstances necessitating a second informed consent discussion, because it was undisputed that the decedent was informed of the risks he later faced. Hageny v. Bodensteiner,
2009 WI App 10,
316 Wis. 2d 240,
762 N.W.2d 452,
08-0133.
448.30 Annotation
This section requires any physician who treats a patient to inform the patient about the availability of all alternate, viable medical modes of treatment, including diagnosis, as well as the benefits and risks of such treatments. Although the jury determined a physician was not negligent in his standard of care for failing to employ an alternative when treating the defendant, that did not relieve the physician of the duty to inform the patient about the availability of all alternate, viable medical modes of treatment. Bubb v. Brusky,
2009 WI 91,
321 Wis. 2d 1,
768 N.W.2d 903,
07-0619.
448.30 Annotation
Neither case law or this section limits the physician's duty to inform the patient of modes of treatment only for the final diagnosis. The distinction between conditions "related" to the final diagnosis and conditions "unrelated" to the final diagnosis finds no support in the statute or case law. A physician's duty is to inform the patient about diagnostic procedures about which a reasonable patient would want to know to make an informed, voluntary decision about his or her medical care, even if those diagnostic procedures are aimed at conditions that are unrelated to the condition that was the final diagnosis. Jandre v. Physicians Insurance Company of Wisconsin,
2012 WI 39,
340 Wis. 2d 31,
813 N.W.2d 627,
08-1972.
448.30 Annotation
The doctrine of informed consent is limited to apprising the patient of risks that inhere to proposed treatments. It does not impose a duty to apprise a patient of any knowledge the doctor may have regarding the condition of the patient or of all possible methods of diagnosis. McGeshick v. Choucair
9 F.3d 1229 (1993).
