Summary

Sponsor: Gosselin
Topic: Impersonating A Physician
Committee: Criminal Law and Corrections

House Bill 4354 would amend the Michigan Penal Code by making the impersonation of a medical doctor a felony. Violators would be subject to imprisonment for up to fifteen years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. A physician would be defined as anyone meeting the legal requirements to practice allopathic, osteopathic, or any other legally authorized type of medicine. Allopathic medicine would be defined as the diagnosis, prevention, cure, or relieving of disease , ailment, defect, complaint, or other physical or mental condition, by attendance, advice, device, diagnostic test, or other means. The bill would define osteopathic medicine to mean a separate, complete, and independent school of medicine and surgery utilizing full methods of diagnosis and treatment in physical and mental health and disease, including the prescription and administration of drugs and biologicals, operative surgery, obstetrics, radiological and other electromagnetic emissions, and placing special emphasis on the interrelationship of the musculoskeletal system to other body systems. However, an individual would not be considered a medical doctor under the bill if they were permitted by law to engage only in one of the following: chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, optometry, or podiatric medicine and surgery.