An Act To Authorize Podiatrists To Perform Certain Routine Procedures
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §3551, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 600, Pt. A, §229, is amended to read:
4. Practice of podiatric medicine. "Practice of podiatric medicine" means the diagnosis and treatment of maladies of the human foot and ankle by medical, surgical or mechanical means. Practice of podiatric medicine "Practice of podiatric medicine" includes the performance of a history and physical on a podiatrist's preoperative patient and upon the patient's admission into a hospital or ambulatory surgical center. "Practice of podiatric medicine" includes the administration of local anesthesia in conjunction with the practice of podiatry. The use of general anesthesia is permitted in conjunction with the practice of podiatry when administered or supervised by a medical or osteopathic physician who assumes responsibility for the administration of that anesthesia to a patient being treated by a podiatrist.
summary
This bill amends the definition of "practice of podiatric medicine" to include the performance of a history and physical on a podiatrist's preoperative patient and upon the patient's admission into a hospital or ambulatory surgical center.