Which situation warrants action from the Physician Assistant Board?

Representing oneself as a physician is a situation that warrants action from the Physician Assistant Board because it directly violates the standards of practice and the legal scope of practice for physician assistants. In most jurisdictions, including Texas, physician assistants are required to practice under the supervision of a licensed physician and must clearly identify themselves as physician assistants in all professional contexts. Misrepresentation can lead to serious legal consequences and poses a risk to patient safety, as patients may rely on the credentials of their healthcare provider when seeking medical care.

In contrast, being related to a Board member, maintaining an active social media presence, and receiving a complaint from a patient may not necessarily result in immediate action from the Board, unless they are tied to violations of professional conduct or laws. In these scenarios, while they may raise ethical considerations or require further examination, they do not inherently involve a direct breach of statutes as being misrepresented as a physician does. Therefore, the act of misrepresentation is the most serious and clear-cut reason for Board intervention.