(a) Except as otherwise permitted by chapters 369 to 388, inclusive, and subsection (b) of this section, no person engaged in the practice of any branch of the art of healing the sick or injured or professing to be engaged in such practice, other than a person who is licensed to practice medicine under the provisions of chapter 370, may use or imply the use of the words “physician”, “surgeon”, “medical doctor”, “osteopath” or “doctor”, or the initials “M.D.”, “D.O.” or “Dr.”, or any similar title or description of services, with the intent to represent, or in a manner that is likely to induce the belief that, the person (1) practices medicine within the state, (2) is licensed to practice medicine within the state, or (3) may diagnose or treat any injury, deformity, ailment or disease, actual or imaginary, of another person for compensation, gain or reward.
(b) A person who holds the degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy, but who is not licensed to practice medicine under the provisions of chapter 370, may use the initials “M.D.” or “D.O.” provided such initials are not used with the intent to represent, or in a manner that is likely to induce the belief that, the person (1) practices medicine within the state, (2) is licensed to practice medicine within the state, or (3) may diagnose or treat any injury, deformity, ailment or disease, actual or imaginary, of another person for compensation, gain or reward.
(c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section or section 20-9, 20-12d or 20-12n shall be guilty of a class D felony. For the purposes of this section, each instance of patient contact or consultation that is in violation of chapter 370 shall constitute a separate offense. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 8646; P.A. 99-102, S. 50; P.A. 06-195, S. 58; P.A. 13-258, S. 117.)
History: P.A. 99-102 deleted obsolete reference to osteopathy and made technical changes re gender neutrality; P.A. 06-195 deleted former provisions, added Subsec. (a) prohibiting use of terms “physician”, “surgeon”, “medical doctor”, “osteopath” or “doctor”, or initials “M.D.”, “D.O.” or “Dr.”, by persons not licensed to practice medicine under chapter 370, added Subsec. (b) re limited exception for unlicensed persons who hold degree of doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy and added Subsec. (c) re penalties for violations, effective June 7, 2006; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (c) to change penalty from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years to a class D felony and make a technical change.