Any person, except a licensed podiatrist, a licensed naturopathic physician or a physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 370, who practices or attempts to practice podiatry, or any person who buys, sells or fraudulently obtains any diploma or license to practice podiatry, or any person who uses the title “podiatrist” or any word or title to induce the belief that such person is engaged in the practice of podiatry, without complying with the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a class D felony. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or restrict the sale or fitting of corrective, orthopedic or arch-supporting shoes or commercial foot appliances by retail merchants and no such retail merchant shall be permitted to practice podiatry without being licensed for such practice. For the purposes of this section, each instance of patient contact or consultation that is in violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the purposes of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 4567; P.A. 84-526, S. 5; P.A. 99-102, S. 23; P.A. 13-258, S. 73.)
History: P.A. 84-526 amended section by changing penalty for violation of any provision of chapter to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than five years, and added provisions that each instance of patient contact or consultation shall constitute a separate offense and failure to renew license in timely manner is not a violation for purposes of section; P.A. 99-102 deleted obsolete reference to osteopathic physician and made technical changes; P.A. 13-258 changed penalty from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years for first conviction to a class D felony for each violation and made technical changes.
Cited. 146 C. 613; 207 C. 674.