Bills · 2023-2024 Regular Session
Relating to: the use of certain words and terms that refer to a physician.
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill restricts the words and terms that may be used to designate certain
medical professionals in titles, advertising, and descriptions of services. Under
current law, no person may use or assume the title “doctor of medicine” or append to
the person's name the letters “M.D.” unless the person possesses the degree of doctor
of medicine or the person is licensed as a physician by the Medical Examining Board.
Similarly, only individuals who possess the degree of doctor of osteopathy may use
or assume the title “doctor of osteopathy” or append “D.O.” to their name.
This bill restricts persons, except licensed physicians, from using certain
words, terms, letters, or abbreviations that represent a person as a physician. Those
restrictions under the bill apply to a person's title, advertising, or description of
services, and the bill provides an extensive but not exclusive list of the words and
terms covered by the bill.
Sponsors
Votes
Senate: Report passage by Committee on Health, Ayes 2, Noes 4
Failed 2–4 Oct 6, 2023 official source full pageNo individual roll call was recorded for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Full history
- Mar 23, 2023 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Roys and Wanggaard; cosponsored by Representatives Magnafici, Dittrich, Murphy and Rozar
- Mar 23, 2023 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Health
- May 22, 2023 · Senate
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Cabral-Guevara
- May 24, 2023 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Oct 4, 2023 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Oct 6, 2023 · Senate
Report passage by Committee on Health, Ayes 2, Noes 4
- Oct 6, 2023 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Apr 15, 2024 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1