APPENDIX II of Cohen MH , A Fixed Star in Health Care Reform: The
Emerging Paradigm of Holistic Healing. Ariz. St. L.J. 27:79 (1995).
COPYRIGHT: ARIZONA STATE LAW JOURNAL. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION.
Definitions Compiled from California State Statutes.
Authorized to practice chiropractic as taught in
chiropractic schools or colleges; use all necessary mechanical,
and hygienic and sanitary measures incident to the care of the
body; cannot practice medicine, surgery, osteopathy, dentistry
or optometry and cannot use any drug or medicine. (STATUTES
1000-1007).543
Authorized to engage in clinical
laboratory practice and direction of a clinical laboratory. (STATUTE
1203).
Authorized to engage in
clinical laboratory practice under the direction of a clinical
laboratory bioanalyst. (STATUTE 1204).
Authorized to engage in or direct a clinical laboratory
providing service within the area of specialization. (STATUTES
1207-1210).
May perform examinations of cytological and
gynecologi cal slides. (STATUTE 1270-1271).
Authorized to practice diagnosis or treatment by
surgery or other method of diseases and lesions and the
correction of malpositions of the human teeth, alveolar process,
gums, jaws, or associated structures; includes use of drugs,
anesthetic agents, and physical evaluation. (STATUTE 1625).
Authorized to practice diagnosis, medical, surgical,
mechanical, manipulative, and electrical treatment of the human
foot, including the ankle and tendons that insert into the foot
and the nonsurgical treatment of the muscles and tendons of the
leg governing the functions of the foot; cannot amputate; cannot
administer an anesthetic other than local; may perform surgical
treatment of the ankle if certified by the board. (STATUTES
2472-2473).
Authorized to treat diseases, injuries,
deformities, or other physical or mental conditions without use
of "drugs" or "medical preparations" and without severing or
penetrating the tissues of human beings except the severing of
the umbilical cord. (STATUTE 2500).
Authorized to attend cases of normal childbirth;
provide prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care, including
family-planning care for the mother, and immediate care for the
newborn; assist a woman in childbirth so long as it is normal.
All this must be done under the supervision of a licensed
physician and surgeon; cannot assist in or perform childbirth by
any artificial, forcible or mechanical means; not authorized to
practice medicine and surgery. (STATUTE 2507).
Authorized to engage in psychoanalysis
as an adjunct to teaching, training or research. (STATUTE 2529).
Authorized to apply principles,
methods, and procedures for measurement, testing,
identification, prediction, counseling, or instruction related
to the development and disorders of speech, voice or language
for the purpose of identifying, preventing, managing,
habilitating or rehabilitating, ameliorating, or modifying such
disorders and conditions in individuals or groups; conduct
hearing screenings; plan, direct, conduct, and supervise
programs for identification, evaluation, habilitation and
rehabilita tion of disorders of speech, voice or language. (STATUTE
2530.2(d)). Cannot practice medicine, surgery or other forms of
healing. (STATUTE 2530).
Authorized to apply principles, methods, and
procedures of measurement, testing, appraisal, prediction,
consultation, counseling, instruction related to auditory,
vestibular and related functions and the modification of
communicative disorders involving speech, language, auditory
behavior or other aberrant behavior resulting from auditory
dysfunction; plan, direct, conduct, supervise and participate in
programs of identification of auditory disorders, hearing
conservation, aural habilitation and rehabilitation, including
hearing aid recommendation and evaluation procedures, including
specifying amplification requirements and evaluation of the
results, auditory training, speech reading. (STATUTE 2530.2(g)).
Cannot practice medicine, surgery or other forms of healing. (STATUTE
2530.4).
Authorized to fit and adjust spectacle lenses and
frames. (STATUTES 2553.5, 2559.2(e)).
Authorized to perform occupational
therapy. (STATUTE 2570).
Authorized to provide nutritional and
dietary counsel ing, conduct nutritional and dietary
assessments, and develop nutritional and dietary treatments
including therapeutic diets for individuals or groups. Must be
referred by a health care provider who will provide the
patient's diagnosis and the desired objective of dietary
treatment. (STATUTE 2586(a)).
Authorized to perform functions necessary for the
support, treatment, measurement, or supplementation of the
cardiovascular system and circulatory system, all under
physician supervision. (STATUTE 2590).
Authorized to engage in the art and science
of physical or corrective rehabilitation or of physical or
corrective treatment of any bodily or mental condition of any
person by the use of the physical, chemical and other properties
of heat, light, water, electricity, sound, massage, and active,
passive, and resistive exercise, and shall include physical
therapy evaluation, treatment planning, instruction and
consultive services. Cannot use roentgen rays and radioactive
materials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Cannot use
electricity for surgical purposes, including cauteriza tion.
Cannot diagnose disease. (STATUTE 2620). May apply topical
medications if comply with certain regulations. Cannot
prescribe medications. (STATUTE 2620.3). May perform tissue
penetration for purpose of evaluating neuromuscular
performancemust be certified and must be authorized by a
physician or surgeon. Cannot develop or make diagnostic or
prognostic interpretations of the data obtained. (STATUTE 2620.5).
Cannot practice medicine, surgery or other forms of healing. (STATUTE
2621).
Authorized to ensure the safety, comfort, personal
hygiene and protection of patients; perform disease prevention
and restorative measures; administer medications and therapeutic
agents, necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention,
or rehabilitative regimen ordered by a physician, dentist,
podiatrist or clinical psychologist; perform skin tests,
immunization techniques, and withdraw human blood, observe signs
and symptoms of illness, reactions to treatment, general
behavior or general physical condition; determine whether the
signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior or general appearance
exhibit abnormal characteristics; implement appropriate
reporting, referral or standardized procedures or changes in
treatment, or initiate emergency procedures. (STATUTE 2725). May
dispense drugs or devices upon order by physician or surgeon.
(STATUTE 2725.1). Cannot practice medicine or surgery (S 2726). For
exceptions, see section 2727.
Authorized to administer medications by
hypodermic injection, withdraw blood, start and superimpose
intravenous fluids, when directed by a physician and surgeon.
(STATUTE 2860.5). May perform tuberculin skin tests, coccidioidin
skin tests and histoplasmin skin tests if within the course of a
tuberculosis control program, as long as acting under the
direction of a physician. May perform immunization techniques
if upon standing orders of a supervising physician or pursuant
to hospital's or medical group's written guidelines. (STATUTE 2860.7).
Authorized to render for a fee any psychological
service involving the application of psychological principles,
methods and procedures of understanding, predicting and
influencing behaviore.g., principles pertaining to learning,
perception, motivation, emotions and interpersonal
relationships; and the methods and procedures of interviewing,
counseling, psychotherapy, behavior modification, and hypnosis;
and of constructing, administering and interpreting tests of
mental abilities, aptitudes, interests, attitudes, personality
characteristics, emotions and motivations. Can diagnose,
prevent, treat and ameliorate psychological problems and
emotional and mental disorders of individuals and groups. (STATUTE
2903).
Authorized to engage in the practice of
fitting and selling hearing aids, which includes direct
observation of the ear, testing of hearing, taking of ear mold
impressions, fitting or sale of hearing aids, post-fitting
counseling. (STATUTE 3306). Cannot take facial measurements or fit,
adjust or adapt lenses or spectacle frames. (STATUTE 3306.5). May
conduct hearing screenings at a health fair, but cannot make
medical evaluation or diagnosis and cannot make or seek
referrals for testing, fitting or dispensing hearing aids. (STATUTE
3306.3).
Authorized to perform such medical services
under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon as the
Medical Board of California permits. Cannot determine the
refractive states of the human eye, or fit or adapt lenses or
frames, or prescribe any optical devices or contact lenses.
Cannot practice dentistry or dental hygiene or the work of a
dental auxiliary. Can perform routine visual screening. (STATUTE
3502).
Authorized to practice medicine and to apply
osteopathic principles to medical practice. (STATUTE 3600).
Authorized to perform safe, aseptic,
preventive and restorative pulmonary care services; administer
pharmacological and diagnos tic and therapeutic agents related
to respiratory care procedures necessary to implement a
treatment, disease prevention, pulmonary rehabilitative or
diagnostic regimen prescribed by a physician or surgeon; observe
and monitor signs, symptoms, general behavior, general physical
response to respiratory care treatment and diagnostic testing
and determine if they exhibit abnormal characteristics and
implement appropriate reporting, referral, respiratory care
protocols, or changes in treatment regimen pursuant to physician
prescription or emergency procedures; administer medical gases
(not general anesthesia), aerosols, humidification,
environmental control systems and baromedical therapy,
pharmacologic agents, mechanical or physiological ventilatory
support, bronchopulmonary hygiene, cardiopulmo nary
resuscitation, maintenance of natural airways, insertion without
cutting tissues and maintenance of artificial airways,
diagnostic and testing techniques, collection of blood
specimens, analysis of blood gases and respiratory secretions;
transcribe and implement written and verbal orders of physician
and surgeon. (STATUTE 3702).
Authorized to perform the general
administra tion of a nursing home. (STATUTE 3903).
Authorized to manufacture, compound, sell or
dispense any dangerous drug or device, or to dispense or
compound any prescription of a medical practitioner. (STATUTE 4050).
Can furnish a reasonable quantity of compounded medication;
transmit a valid prescription to another pharmacist; administer,
orally or topically, drugs and biologicals pursuant to a prescri
ber's order; order or perform routine drug therapy, related
patient assessment tests, including temperature, pulse,
respiration; order drug therapy related lab tests; administer
drugs and biologicals by injection pursuant to a prescriber's
order; initiate or adjust the drug regimen of a patient pursuant
to an order or authorization; manufacture, measure, fit, or sell
and repair, legend medical devices or furnish instructions
concerning use of those devices. (STATUTE 4046). May perform skin
puncture to train patients to withdraw their own blood. (STATUTE
4061). May take a person's blood pressure and inform them of
results, render an opinion and advise them to consult a
physician. (STATUTE 4062).
Authorized to implement procedures and
techniques which involve understanding of cause and effect and
use in the care, treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill,
emotionally disturbed or mentally retarded persons. May
administer or implement specific therapeutic procedures,
techniques, treatments or medications with the aim of enabling
patients to make optional use of their therapeutic regimen,
social and personal resources and residential care; apply
interpersonal and technical skills in the observation and
recognition of symptoms and reactions of patients for accurate
recording and carrying out of treatments and medica tions. May
not practice medicine, surgery or undertake the prevention,
treatment or cure of disease, pain, injury, deformity, or mental
or physical condition in violation of the law. (STATUTE 4502).
Authorized to diagnose; administer or prescribe a
drug, medicine, appliance or application; or treat for the
prevention, cure or relief of a wound, fracture or bodily injury
or disease of animals. May induce anesthesia. May perform a
surgical or dental operation upon an animal. May perform any
manual procedure for the diagnosis of pregnancy, sterility or
infertility upon livestock. (STATUTE 4826).
Authorized to stimulate points on or near the
surface of the body by inserting needles to prevent or modify
the perception of pain or to normalize physiological functions
for the treatment of disease or dysfunctions of the body,
including the techniques of electroacupuncture, cupping, and
moxibustion. (STATUTE 4927). Authorized to perform or prescribe the
use of oriental massage, acupressure, breathing techniques,
exercise or nutrition, including the incorporation of drugless
substances and herbs as dietary supplements to promote health
(in connection with the practice of acupunc ture). (STATUTE 4937).
Authorized to examine
interpersonal relationships of individuals, couples, or groups
for the purpose of achieving more adequate, satisfying and
productive marriage and family adjustments, including
relationship and pre-marriage counseling. Authorized to use
applied psychotherapeutic techniques to enable individuals to
mature and grow within marriage and the family. Authorized to
provide explanations and interpretations of the psychosexual and
psychosocial aspects of relationships. (STATUTE 4980.02).
Authorized to help people achieve more adequate,
satisfying and productive social adjustments by applying a
special knowledge of social resources, human capabilities and
the part that unconscious motivation plays in determining
behavior. Can counsel and use applied psychotherapy of a
nonmedical nature with individuals, families or groups. Can
provide information and referral services; provide or arrange
for the provision of social services; explain or interpret the
psychosocial aspects in the situations of individuals, families
or groups; help communities to organize to provide or improve
social or health services; or do research related to social
work. (STATUTE 4996.9).