This section defines terms used in this part, including “Board,” “Physician,” “practice of medicine,” and “Telehealth.” It also says M.D. and D.O. doctors must receive equal professional status and unrestricted privileges, and it does not bar other authorized providers from using the term “physician.”
§1262. Definition As used in this Part, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them: (1) "Board" means the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. (2) "Physician" means a natural person who is the holder of an allopathic (M.D.) degree or an osteopathic (D.O.) degree from a medical college in good standing with the board who holds a license, permit, certification, or registration issued by the board to engage in the practice of medicine in the state of Louisiana. Doctors of allopathic medicine (M.D.) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) shall be accorded equal professional status and unrestricted privileges in the practice of medicine. The use of the term "physician" in this Part shall not be construed to prohibit the use of such term by other health care providers specifically authorized to use such term by any other lawful provision of this state. (3) "The practice of medicine", whether allopathic or osteopathic, means the holding out of one's self to the public as being engaged in the business of, or the actual engagement in, the diagnosing, treating, curing, or relieving of any bodily or mental disease, condition, infirmity, deformity, defect, ailment, or injury in any human being, other than himself, whether by the use of any drug, instrument or force, whether physical or psychic, or of what other nature, or any other agency or means; or the examining, either gratuitously or for compensation, of any person or material from any person for such purpose whether such drug, instrument, force, or other agency or means is applied to or used by the patient or by another person; or the attending of a woman in childbirth without the aid of a licensed physician or midwife. (4) "Telehealth" shall have the same meaning as that term defined in R.S. 40:1223.3. Acts 1975, No. 350, §1; Acts 1985, No. 302, §2; Acts 2001, No. 17, §1, eff. May 17, 2001; Acts 2008, No. 850, §1, See Act; Acts 2021, No. 266, §1; Acts 2023, No. 322, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 2024. NOTE: Acts 2008, No. 850, eff. upon the final adoption of the necessary rules and regulations promulgated by the La. St. Bd. of Medical Examiners