Fla. Stat. 458.327
Penalty for violations


(1)

Each of the following acts constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084:The practice of medicine or an attempt to practice medicine without a license to practice in Florida.The use or attempted use of a license which is suspended or revoked to practice medicine.Attempting to obtain or obtaining a license to practice medicine by knowing misrepresentation.Attempting to obtain or obtaining a position as a medical practitioner or medical resident in a clinic or hospital through knowing misrepresentation of education, training, or experience.Knowingly operating, owning, or managing a nonregistered pain-management clinic that is required to be registered with the Department of Health pursuant to s. 458.3265(1).Dispensing a controlled substance listed in Schedule II or Schedule III in violation of s. 465.0276.

(a)

The practice of medicine or an attempt to practice medicine without a license to practice in Florida.

(b)

The use or attempted use of a license which is suspended or revoked to practice medicine.

(c)

Attempting to obtain or obtaining a license to practice medicine by knowing misrepresentation.

(d)

Attempting to obtain or obtaining a position as a medical practitioner or medical resident in a clinic or hospital through knowing misrepresentation of education, training, or experience.

(e)

Knowingly operating, owning, or managing a nonregistered pain-management clinic that is required to be registered with the Department of Health pursuant to s. 458.3265(1).

(f)

Dispensing a controlled substance listed in Schedule II or Schedule III in violation of s. 465.0276.

(2)

Each of the following acts constitutes a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083:Knowingly concealing information relating to violations of this chapter.Making any willfully false oath or affirmation whenever an oath or affirmation is required by this chapter.Referring any patient, for health care goods or services, to a partnership, firm, corporation, or other business entity in which the physician or the physician’s employer has an equity interest of 10 percent or more unless, prior to such referral, the physician notifies the patient of his or her financial interest and of the patient’s right to obtain such goods or services at the location of the patient’s choice. This section does not apply to the following types of equity interest:
The ownership of registered securities issued by a publicly held corporation or the ownership of securities issued by a publicly held corporation, the shares of which are traded on a national exchange or the over-the-counter market;
A physician’s own practice, whether he or she is a sole practitioner or part of a group, when the health care good or service is prescribed or provided solely for the physician’s own patients and is provided or performed by the physician or under the physician’s supervision; or
An interest in real property resulting in a landlord-tenant relationship between the physician and the entity in which the equity interest is held, unless the rent is determined, in whole or in part, by the business volume or profitability of the tenant or is otherwise unrelated to fair market value.
Leading the public to believe that one is licensed as a medical doctor, or is engaged in the licensed practice of medicine, without holding a valid, active license.Practicing medicine or attempting to practice medicine with an inactive or delinquent license.Knowingly prescribing or dispensing, or causing to be prescribed or dispensed, controlled substances in a nonregistered pain-management clinic that is required to be registered with the Department of Health pursuant to s. 458.3265(1).

(a)

Knowingly concealing information relating to violations of this chapter.

(b)

Making any willfully false oath or affirmation whenever an oath or affirmation is required by this chapter.

(c)

Referring any patient, for health care goods or services, to a partnership, firm, corporation, or other business entity in which the physician or the physician’s employer has an equity interest of 10 percent or more unless, prior to such referral, the physician notifies the patient of his or her financial interest and of the patient’s right to obtain such goods or services at the location of the patient’s choice. This section does not apply to the following types of equity interest:The ownership of registered securities issued by a publicly held corporation or the ownership of securities issued by a publicly held corporation, the shares of which are traded on a national exchange or the over-the-counter market;A physician’s own practice, whether he or she is a sole practitioner or part of a group, when the health care good or service is prescribed or provided solely for the physician’s own patients and is provided or performed by the physician or under the physician’s supervision; orAn interest in real property resulting in a landlord-tenant relationship between the physician and the entity in which the equity interest is held, unless the rent is determined, in whole or in part, by the business volume or profitability of the tenant or is otherwise unrelated to fair market value.
1. The ownership of registered securities issued by a publicly held corporation or the ownership of securities issued by a publicly held corporation, the shares of which are traded on a national exchange or the over-the-counter market;
2. A physician’s own practice, whether he or she is a sole practitioner or part of a group, when the health care good or service is prescribed or provided solely for the physician’s own patients and is provided or performed by the physician or under the physician’s supervision; or
3. An interest in real property resulting in a landlord-tenant relationship between the physician and the entity in which the equity interest is held, unless the rent is determined, in whole or in part, by the business volume or profitability of the tenant or is otherwise unrelated to fair market value.

(d)

Leading the public to believe that one is licensed as a medical doctor, or is engaged in the licensed practice of medicine, without holding a valid, active license.

(e)

Practicing medicine or attempting to practice medicine with an inactive or delinquent license.

(f)

Knowingly prescribing or dispensing, or causing to be prescribed or dispensed, controlled substances in a nonregistered pain-management clinic that is required to be registered with the Department of Health pursuant to s. 458.3265(1).

Source: Section 458.327 — Penalty for violations, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0458.­327 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

458.301
Purpose
458.303
Provisions not applicable to other practitioners
458.305
Definitions
458.307
Board of Medicine
458.309
Rulemaking authority
458.310
Restricted licenses
458.311
Licensure by examination
458.313
Licensure by endorsement
458.314
Certification of foreign educational institutions
458.315
Temporary certificate for practice in areas of critical need
458.316
Public health certificate
458.317
Limited licenses
458.319
Renewal of license
458.320
Financial responsibility
458.321
Inactive status
458.323
Itemized patient billing
458.324
Breast cancer
458.325
Electroconvulsive and psychosurgical procedures
458.326
Intractable pain
458.327
Penalty for violations
458.328
Office surgeries
458.329
Sexual misconduct in the practice of medicine
458.331
Grounds for disciplinary action
458.335
Prescription or administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
458.336
Drugs to treat obesity
458.337
Reports of disciplinary actions by medical organizations and hospitals
458.339
Physician’s consent
458.341
Search warrants for certain violations
458.343
Subpoena of certain records
458.345
Registration of resident physicians, interns, and fellows
458.347
Physician assistants
458.348
Formal supervisory relationships, standing orders, and established protocols
458.351
Reports of adverse incidents in office practice settings
458.3115
Restricted license
458.3129
Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
458.3135
Temporary certificate for visiting physicians to practice in approved cancer centers
458.3137
Temporary certificate for visiting physicians to obtain medical privileges for instructional purposes in conjunction with certain plastic surgery or other medical or surgical training programs and educational symposiums
458.3145
Medical faculty certificate
458.3147
Medical school eligibility of military academy students or graduates
458.3151
Temporary certificate for active duty military and veterans practicing in areas of critical need
458.3165
Public psychiatry certificate
458.3175
Expert witness certificate
458.3191
Physician survey
458.3192
Analysis of survey results
458.3193
Confidentiality of certain information contained in physician workforce surveys
458.3255
Electronic-communications diagnostic-imaging or treatment services
458.3265
Pain-management clinics
458.3295
Concerted effort to refuse emergency room treatment to patients
458.3311
Emergency procedures for disciplinary action
458.3312
Specialties
458.3475
Anesthesiologist assistants
458.3485
Medical assistant

Current through Fall 2025

§ 458.327. Penalty for violations's source at flsenate​.gov