An Act To Clarify the Use of "M.D." To Represent Achievement of a Graduate Degree by an Individual Not Licensed To Practice Medicine in Maine

Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §3270, 2nd ¶,  as amended by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §204, is further amended to read:

Whoever, not being duly licensed by the board, practices medicine or surgery or a branch of medicine or surgery, or purports to practice medicine or surgery or a branch of medicine or surgery in a way cited in this section, or who uses the title "Doctor" or the letters "Dr." or the letters "M.D." in connection with that individual's name, contrary to this section, commits a Class E crime. The prefixing of the title "Doctor" or the letters "Dr." or the appending of the letters "M.D." by an individual to that individual's name or the use of the title of doctor or physician in any way by an individual not licensed as described is prima facie evidence that that individual is purporting to practice medicine or surgery contrary to this section, except that nothing Nothing contained in this section prevents an individual who has received the doctor's degree from a reputable college or university , other than the degree of "Doctor of Medicine" from prefixing the letters "Dr." to that individual's name, if that individual is not engaged, and does not engage, in the practice of medicine or surgery or the treatment of a disease or human ailment. Nothing in this chapter may be construed as to affect or prevent the practice of the religious tenets of a church in the ministration to the sick or suffering by mental or spiritual means.

summary

The bill enables an individual who has earned the graduate degree Doctor of Medicine to use the letters "Dr." or "M.D." prefixed or appended to that individual's name, so long as the individual is not representing to the public that the individual is licensed and authorized to practice medicine in the State.