Tex. Occ. Code § 151.003 : OCCUPATIONS CODE — HEALTH PROFESSIONS — PHYSICIANS — GENERAL PROVISIONS — GENERAL PROVISIONS — Legislative Findings TEXT PDF The legislature finds that: (1) the practice of medicine is a privilege and not a natural right of individuals and as a matter of public policy it is necessary to protect the public interest through enactment of this subtitle to regulate the granting of that privilege and its subsequent use and control; and (2) the board should remain the primary means of licensing, regulating, and disciplining physicians. Tex. Occ. Code § 151.003 Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/1999.