(a) The purpose of the board is to protect the public's safety and welfare through the regulation of the practice of medicine.     
      (b) The board's functions include but are not limited to the following:      
        (1) Establish standards for the practice of medicine by physicians.       
        (2) Regulate the practice of medicine through the licensure and discipline of physicians.       
        (3) Provide oversight of the several advisory boards and advisory committees.       
        (4) Interpret the Medical Practice Act and applicable sections of the Acts, and Rules, of the several advisory boards and advisory committees subject to Medical Board oversight.       
        (5) Receive complaints and investigate possible violations of the Medical Practice Act and the Board Rules.       
        (6) Discipline violators through appropriate legal action to enforce the Medical Practice Act and the Board Rules.       
        (7) Review and modify the Board Rules when necessary and appropriate.       
        (8) Examine and license qualified applicants to practice medicine, surgical assisting, perfusion and medical physics in Texas in a manner that ensures that applicable standards are maintained.       
        (9) Provide recommendations to the legislature concerning appropriate changes to the Medical Practice Act and Surgical Assistant Act to ensure that the acts are current and applicable to changing needs and practices.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §161.2 adopted to be effective March 7, 2002, 27 TexReg 1486; amended to be effective January 25, 2006, 31 TexReg 382; amended to be effective November 14, 2019, 44 TexReg 6880