LAWS REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE OF THE UNITED STATES. INTRODUCTORY. Below will be found a résumé of the conditions or legal restrictions of medical practice in the several states and territories of the United States. The frequent inquiries that are made to THE JOURNAL of the American Medical Association as to these points convince us that a digest of the medical laws of the states, brought as nearly up to date as is possible, will be appreciated. We have given verbatim in many cases the sections of the law that are of special interest, and in all cases have endeavored to state the essential facts. Recent legislation is given in full, so far as it pertains to medical practice. In all cases the matter has been submitted to the secretaries of the several examining or licensing boards and embody their corrections. In many states the locality in which the examinations take place is not fixed, but is changed from time to time at the convenience of that particular examining board. For further information in practically all cases it will be advisable to communicate with the secretary or executive officer of the board at the address given. The many changes made in the medical practice acts of the different states since the issuing of the last edition of this pamphlet has made it desirable to have it reprinted with the necessary additions, giving the correct statements of the laws in force as far as can be learned on the first of July of the present year. Changes will doubtless be made by some states next winter, and will be noticed in the columns of THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION as they are made. ALABAMA. Examination in writing by the state board or by a county board is required of all applicants for a certificate of qualification and must cover ten branches, viz., chemistry, anatomy, physiology, the etiology, pathology, symptomatology, differential diagnosis, and prognosis of diseases, surgery, obstetrics and obstetrical operations, gynecology, physical diagnosis, hygiene and medical jurisprudence. To avoid ground upon which schools of medicine differ, materia medica and the administration of medicines are intentionally omitted. Examinations are conducted by a paid supervisor (not a member of the board.) All examinations by county boards are reviewed and reported upon by the state board. County boards are not permitted to examine applicants unless they hold diplomas from reputable medical colleges. No such restriction applies to the state board. for success. A final average of 75 per cent. is required Applicants belonging to different schools of medicine are similarly examined. A Failure to pass a county board precludes a subsequent examination by any county board within twelve months, but appeal may be had at once to the state board, which will give the candidate a new examination and decide his fate. certificate of qualification to practice medicine, if granted, must be recorded in the probate office of the county in which the holder resides. By ordinance of the state board members of the faculties of medical colleges are forbidden to serve on county examining boards when graduates of their colleges are applicants. The standard of qualification, the branches for examination, the methods to be pursued, etc., are prescribed by the State Medical Association, the board of censors of which constitutes the "state board." The fee for examination is $10 (to the supervisor) and the fee for the registration of a certificate in the probate office is $1. Dr. W. H. Sanders, chairman of the State Board of Examiners, Montgomery, Ala. There is no reciprocity provided for by the law. The most recent law (1903) defining the divisions of practice and exemptions from examination therein in Alabama is as follows: An Act to prescribe the branches of medical learning upon which applicants for the privilege of treating the diseases of human beings in this state must be examined, and to provide for the issuance of certificates of qualification therefor. Section 1. Be it enacted by the legislature of Alabama, That any applicant for a certificate of qualification to treat the diseases of human beings by any system of treatment whatsoever shall, according to rules prescribed and standards established by the Medical Association of the State of Ala bama, be examined by one of the authorized boards of medical examiners of this State in the following branches of medical learning, to-wit: Chemistry, anatomy, physiology, the etiology, pathology, symptomatology and diagnosis of diseases; obstetrics and obstetrical operations, gynecology, minor and major surgery, physical diagnosis, hygiene, and medical jurisprudence, and should said applicant be found proficient in said branches of medical learning a certificate of qualification in such form as shall be prescribed by the said Medical Association of the State of Alabama shall be issued to him, which shall entitle him to treat any and all diseases of human beings in this state in any manner that he may deem best. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That when any applicant states in writing that he has neither studied nor proposes to practice major surgery, said applicant shall be exempt from examination in said branch of major surgery, and should he be found proficient in other branches of medical learning named in Section one (1) of this Act that a certificate of qualification in form to be likewise prescribed by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama shall be issued to him, which shall entitle him to treat all diseases of human beings in this state in such manner as he may deem best except by the practice of major surgery. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws in so far as they conflict with the provisions of this act be and the same are hereby repealed. ALASKA. Aside from local regulations, Alaska has no medical practice law. ARIZONA. The new medical practice act of Arizona (1903), provides for a board of medical examiners, three regular, one homeopathic and one eclectic, appointed by the governor, meeting quarterly at Phoenix, and at such other times as it may appoint. The law provides for the issuance of license to those who are residents of Arizona, are of the age of 21 and are of good moral character, and who in addition: 1, present diploma and pass examination; or 2, present diploma and show certificate of license under laws of 1901 or 1897; or 3, have practiced for five successive years previous to the passage of the act and pass an examination. The law provides how application shall be made, sworn to, and how certification shall be made as to character and length of practice. The fee for license is $2, and for examination $10. Those who have complied with previous laws are given until June, 1903, to comply with this law. Violation is punishable by a fine of $100 to $1,000 or imprisonment for three months to one year, or both fine and imprisonment. Other provisions of the law appear in the following portions quoted: Sec. 5. The examination provided for in the preceding section shall be made by said board as soon after the application shall have been presented as it may be conveniently done and after notice to the applicant of the time and place thereof. The examination shall be conducted under such reasonable rules and regulations as the board may prescribe therefor, and with the design and purpose of ascertaining the fitness of the applicant for the practice of medicine in this territory. If the applicant request it, he or she shall have the privilege of being examined in the branches of the science and practice of medicine other than physiology, anatomy, pathology, chemistry, practice, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, by the member or members of the board of the particular school of medicine specified in his or her diploma, and if the examination in such other branches be satisfactory to the member or members conducting said examination, it shall be approved by the board and to the extent thereof be deemed to be to the board's satisfaction. Section 7. Upon proper proof to the Board of Medical Examiners of Arizona that the holder of any license issued under the provisions of this act has been guilty, since the issuance thereof, of any grossly immoral or unprofessional conduct, or of other conduct rendering him or her unfit to practice medicine in this teritory, or has been convicted of any felony, said board shall, after due notice to such holder and full opportunity to him or her to defend against or refute such charges, revoke and cancel such license, and it shall thereafter be unlawful for such person to practice medicine in this territory until he or she shall again be licensed thereto under the provisions of this act. Sec. 10. Any person shall be regarded as practicing medicine within the meaning of this act, who shall, within this territory, (a) by advertisement, or by any notice, sign or other indication, or by any statement, printed, written, or oral, in public or in private, made, done or procured by himself or herself, or any other, at his or her request for him or her, claim, announce, make known or pretend his or her ability and willingness to diagnosticate or prognosticate any human disease, ills, deformities, defects, wounds or injuries; (b) or who shall so advertise or make known or claim his or her ability and willingness to prescribe or administer any drug, medicine, treatment, method or practice, or to perform any operation, or manipulation, or apply any apparatus or appliance for cure, amelioration, correction, reduction or modification of any human disease, ill, deformity, defect, wound or injury, for hire, fee, compensation or reward, promised, offered, expected, received or accepted, directly or indirectly; |