Resources & Information

How to Find Position Statements

Select a category below to view position statements by subject. To see the entire collection of position statements, click the link at right to view a full compendium. If you are interested in viewing position statements that are proposed or currently under review, or that have been recently reviewed, visit our Policy Discussions page.

1: Introduction

1.1.1: What Are the Position Statements of the Board and to Whom Do They Apply?

2: Patient-Licensee Relationships

2.1: Responsibilities of Licensees & Patients

2.1.1: The Licensee-Patient Relationship

2.1.2: Departures from or Closings of Medical Practices

2.1.3: The Retired Physician/Licensee

2.1.4: Availability of Licensees to Their Patients

2.2: Special Issues in Patient-Licensee Relationships

2.2.1: Sexual Misconduct Involving Patients

2.2.2: Guidelines for Avoiding Misunderstandings During Patient Encounters and Physical Examinations

2.2.3: Self-Treatment and Treatment of Family Members

2.2.4: Conflicts in the Healthcare Setting

3: Privacy, Confidentiality, & Medical Records

3.1: Privacy

3.1.1: Professional Use of Social Media

3.1.2: Policy for the Use of Audio or Visual Recordings in Patient Care

3.2: Medical Records

3.2.1: MEDICAL RECORDS – Documentation, Electronic Health Records, Access, and Retention

4: Prescribing

4.1.1: Contact With Patients Before Prescribing

4.1.2: Writing of Prescriptions

4.1.3: Policy for the Use of Opioids for the Treatment of Pain

4.1.4: Expedited Partner Therapy

5: Guidance on Procedures and Treatments

5.1.1: Office-Based Procedures

5.1.2: Laser Surgery

5.1.3: Care of the Patient Undergoing Surgical or Other Invasive Procedure

5.1.4: Telemedicine

5.1.5: Licensee Use of Innovative or New Treatment

6: Caring for Patients at End-of-Life

6.1.1: Advance Directives and Patient Autonomy

6.1.2: Palliative Care and End-of-life Responsibilities

6.1.3: Joint Statement on Medication Management of Pain in End-of-Life Care (Adopted by the North Carolina Medical Board, North Carolina Board of Nursing, and North Carolina Board of Pharmacy)

6.1.4: Clinician Obligation to Complete a Certificate of Death

7: Licensees & the Health of the Community

7.1.1: Child Maltreatment

8: Professional Self-Regulation

8.1: Licensee Education & Training

8.1.1: Physician Practice Drift

8.1.2: The Medical Supervisor-Trainee Relationship

8.2: Licensee Wellness

8.2.1: Professional Obligations Pertaining to Incompetence, Impairment, or Unethical Conduct of Licensees

8.3: Licensee Promotion & Marketing Practices

8.3.1: Advertising and Publicity

8.3.2: Sale of Goods from Licensee’s Offices

8.4: Licensee Interactions with Government Agencies and Legal Proceedings

8.4.1: Unethical Agreements in Complaint Settlements

8.4.2: Medical Testimony

9: Professional Working Relationships

9.1.1: Physician Supervision of Other Licensed Health Care Professionals

9.1.2: Professional Behavior Within the Healthcare Team

9.1.3. Licensee Employment

10. Fees & Charges

10.1.1: Referral Fees and Fee Splitting

10.1.2: Corporate Practice of Medicine