Under section 6-402, what is prohibited for licensed healthcare providers?

The prohibition for licensed healthcare providers under section 6-402 specifically focuses on the ethical and legal responsibilities they have regarding patient care and safety. Referring patients to unlicensed individuals poses significant risks both to the patient and the integrity of the healthcare profession. Licensed providers are expected to ensure that any services rendered to their patients are conducted by qualified individuals who meet the statutory requirements for practice. This means that any referral must be made to a licensed professional who is legally authorized to provide the specific treatment or therapy.

Other activities mentioned, such as offering free consultations, providing alternative treatments, or advertising specialized services, may not inherently violate regulations or standards laid out for licensed professionals, as long as they do so appropriately and in compliance with established guidelines and laws. Thus, the critical issue in this context resides in the responsibility to steer patients only to those practitioners who are legally recognized and qualified, making referrals to unlicensed individuals a serious breach of professional duty.