BILL NUMBER: AB 2196	CHAPTERED  06/30/02

	CHAPTER  87
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 30, 2002
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JUNE 28, 2002
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 17, 2002
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 25, 2002
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 1, 2002

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Lowenthal

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2002

   An act to amend Sections 2054 and 2474 of the Business and
Professions Code, relating to podiatry.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2196, Lowenthal.  Podiatrists.
   Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, makes it a misdemeanor for
a person who is not licensed as a physician and surgeon to use
certain words, letters, and phrases or any other terms that imply
that he or she is authorized to practice medicine as a physician and
surgeon.  Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person who is not
licensed to practice podiatric medicine to use certain words,
letters, and phrases or any other terms that imply that he or she is
a podiatrist.
   This bill would specify that a person who is licensed to practice
podiatric medicine may use the phrases "doctor of podiatric medicine,"
"doctor of podiatry," and "podiatric doctor" or the initials
"D.P.M.," and the person would not be in violation of the act.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 2054 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   2054.  (a) Any person who uses in any sign, business card, or
letterhead, or, in an advertisement, the words "doctor" or
"physician," the letters or prefix "Dr.," the initials "M.D.," or any
other terms or letters indicating or implying that he or she is a
physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner under the
terms of this or any other law, or that he or she is entitled to
practice hereunder, or who represents or holds himself or herself out
as a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner
under the terms of this or any other law, without having at the time
of so doing a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate as a
physician and surgeon under this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

   (b) A holder of a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate to
practice podiatric medicine may use the phrases "doctor of podiatric
medicine," "doctor of podiatry," and "podiatric doctor," or the
initials "D.P.M.," and shall not be in violation of subdivision (a).

  SEC. 2.  Section 2474 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   2474.  Any person who uses in any sign or in any advertisement or
otherwise, the word or words "doctor of podiatric medicine," "doctor
of podiatry," "podiatric doctor," "D.P.M.," "podiatrist," "foot
specialist," or any other term or terms or any letters indicating or
implying that he or she is a podiatrist, or that he or she practices
podiatric medicine, or holds himself out as practicing podiatric
medicine or foot correction as defined in Section 2472, without
having at the time of so doing a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended
certificate as provided for in this chapter, is guilty of a
misdemeanor.