Delaware: calls for more transparency around healthcare credentials
The Caesar Rodney Institute is seeking public support for legislation that would require health care professionals in Delaware to clearly disclose their professional credentials and license type to patients before providing nonemergency care. The proposal would revive and strengthen the Healthcare Professional Transparency Act, which was introduced in 2024 but did not advance to a vote, by requiring practitioners who use the title “Doctor” to identify their professional license and educational degree and requiring most health care practitioners to display their license type. The effort comes as Delaware has expanded the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and pharmacists, increasing the range of professionals who may independently evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, order tests, prescribe medications, or provide treatment. The institute argues that clearer identification would help patients understand the education, training, and professional role of the person providing their care, while noting that existing law already addresses use of the “Doctor” title but does not require affirmative disclosure of professional classification. The article also connects the proposal to recent legislation addressing the use of artificial intelligence in health care, which prohibits AI systems from being licensed or using protected professional titles.