SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1769        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 827

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Thomas P. Kennedy

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to truth in advertising..

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1769        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 827

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to truth in advertising..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.   Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary it shall be unlawful for any person who is not a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of dental medicine to make any statement, or engage in any act, that deceives or misleads the public or a prospective or current patient that such person is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine or has the same or equivalent education skills or training.  Such deceptive or misleading statements or acts shall include advertising in any medium, making false statement regarding the education, skills, training or licensure of such person or in any other way describing such person’s profession, skills, training experience, education or licensure in a fashion that causes the public, a potential patient or current patient to believe that such person is a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine.

SECTION 2.     The attorney general shall develop fines and penalties for violation of section 1 of this act.