Use of free speech by a health care practitioner; prohibition.

(1) A board, or the department if there is no board, may not take disciplinary action against a health care practitioner’s license or deny a license to an individual solely because the individual has spoken or written publicly about a health care service or public policy, including, but not limited to, speech through the use of a social media platform as defined in s. 501.2041, provided that the individual is not using such speech or written communication to provide medical advice or treatment to a specific patient or patients, and provided that such speech or written communication does not separately violate any other applicable law or rule.

(2) If a specialty board or other recognizing agency approved by any board within the jurisdiction of the department revokes the certification of an individual solely because the individual has spoken or written publicly about a health care service or public policy, including, but not limited to, speech through the use of a social media platform as defined in s. 501.2041, provided such individual was not providing medical advice or treatment to a specific patient and provided such speech did not separately violate any other applicable law, the board within the jurisdiction of the department may revoke its approval of such specialty board or other recognizing agency.