Interference with licensee's independent clinical judgment.
RCW 18.32.677
in effect(1) A person that is not licensed under this chapter or an entity that is not a professional entity practices dentistry in violation of this chapter, and subject to enforcement under RCW 18.130.190 , if the person or entity interferes with a licensed dentist's independent clinical judgment by: (a) Limiting or imposing requirements on the length of time a dentist spends with a patient or performing dental services, or otherwise placing conditions on the number of patients a dentist must treat in a certain period of time or the number of certain types of procedures a dentist must complete in a certain time period; (b) Limiting or imposing requirements on the decision of a dentist regarding a course or alternative course of treatment for a patient or the manner in which a course of treatment is carried out by the dentist; (c) Limiting or imposing requirements on the manner in which a dentist uses dental equipment or materials for the provision of dental treatment; (d) Limiting or imposing requirements on the use of a laboratory or the materials, supplies, instruments, or equipment deemed reasonably necessary by a dentist to provide diagnoses and treatment consistent with the standard of care; (e) Limiting or imposing requirements for the professional training deemed reasonably necessary by a dentist to properly serve the dentist's patients; (f) Limiting or imposing requirements on the referrals by a dentist to another licensed dentist specialist or any other practitioner the dentist determines is necessary; (g) Interfering with a dentist's right to access patient records at any time; (h) Interfering with a dentist's decision to refund any payment made by a patient for dental services performed by the dentist; (i) Limiting or imposing requirements on the advertising of a dental practice if it would result in a violation of this chapter or *RCW 18.130.020 (12)(b) by the dental practice; or (j) Limiting or imposing requirements on communications with a dentist's patients. (2) For the purpose of this section, "dentist" means a dentist licensed under this chapter. (3) Violations of this section shall be enforced pursuant to RCW 18.130.190 , including the authority to issue subpoenas pursuant to RCW 18.130.050 (4). Communication of complaints or information to a state agency pursuant to RCW 4.24.500 through 4.24.520 are covered by those provisions.
(1) A person that is not licensed under this chapter or an entity that is not a professional entity practices dentistry in violation of this chapter, and subject to enforcement under RCW 18.130.190 , if the person or entity interferes with a licensed dentist's independent clinical judgment by:
(a) Limiting or imposing requirements on the length of time a dentist spends with a patient or performing dental services, or otherwise placing conditions on the number of patients a dentist must treat in a certain period of time or the number of certain types of procedures a dentist must complete in a certain time period;
(b) Limiting or imposing requirements on the decision of a dentist regarding a course or alternative course of treatment for a patient or the manner in which a course of treatment is carried out by the dentist;
(c) Limiting or imposing requirements on the manner in which a dentist uses dental equipment or materials for the provision of dental treatment;
(d) Limiting or imposing requirements on the use of a laboratory or the materials, supplies, instruments, or equipment deemed reasonably necessary by a dentist to provide diagnoses and treatment consistent with the standard of care;
(e) Limiting or imposing requirements for the professional training deemed reasonably necessary by a dentist to properly serve the dentist's patients;
(f) Limiting or imposing requirements on the referrals by a dentist to another licensed dentist specialist or any other practitioner the dentist determines is necessary;
(g) Interfering with a dentist's right to access patient records at any time;
(h) Interfering with a dentist's decision to refund any payment made by a patient for dental services performed by the dentist;
(i) Limiting or imposing requirements on the advertising of a dental practice if it would result in a violation of this chapter or *RCW 18.130.020 (12)(b) by the dental practice; or
(j) Limiting or imposing requirements on communications with a dentist's patients.
(2) For the purpose of this section, "dentist" means a dentist licensed under this chapter.
(3) Violations of this section shall be enforced pursuant to RCW 18.130.190 , including the authority to issue subpoenas pursuant to RCW 18.130.050 (4). Communication of complaints or information to a state agency pursuant to RCW 4.24.500 through 4.24.520 are covered by those provisions.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.32&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026
