2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 36.5 - Professional Review of Health Care Providers
Part 1 - Professional Review Proceedings - Physicians
§ 12-36.5-101. Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that the Colorado medical board created in article 36 of this title and the state board of nursing created in article 38 of this title act for the state in their sovereign capacity to govern licensure, discipline, and professional review of persons licensed to practice medicine, licensed as physician assistants, and licensed to practice nursing and granted authority as advanced practice nurses, respectively, in this state. The general assembly further finds, determines, and declares that:

(a) The authority to provide health care in this state is a privilege granted by the legislative authority of the state; and

(b) It is necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state that the appropriate regulatory boards exercise their authority to protect the people of this state from unauthorized practice and unprofessional conduct by persons licensed to provide health care under articles 36 and 38 of this title.

(2) The general assembly recognizes that:

(a) Many patients of persons licensed to provide health care in this state have restricted choices of health care providers under a variety of circumstances and conditions;

(b) Many patients lack the knowledge, experience, or education to properly evaluate the quality of medical or nursing practice or the professional conduct of those licensed to practice medicine, licensed to act as physician assistants, and licensed to practice nursing and granted authority as advanced practice nurses; and

(c) It is necessary and proper that the respective regulatory boards exercise their regulatory authority to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state.

(3) The general assembly recognizes that, in the proper exercise of their authority and responsibilities under this article, the Colorado medical board and the state board of nursing must, to some extent, replace competition with regulation, and that the replacement of competition by regulation, particularly with regard to persons licensed under article 36 of this title or licensed under article 38 of this title and granted authority as advanced practice nurses, is related to a legitimate state interest in the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of this state.