General Provisions - Naturopathic Doctors Act - Business & Professions - CA

Section § 3610

This law section states that this chapter is officially called the Naturopathic Doctors Act.

This chapter may be cited as the Naturopathic Doctors Act.

Naturopathic Doctors Naturopathic Doctors Act official title

Section § 3612

This law establishes the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine as part of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

The California Board of Naturopathic Medicine is hereby created within the Department of Consumer Affairs.

California Board of Naturopathic Medicine Department of Consumer Affairs naturopathic medicine

Section § 3613

This section defines key terms related to the practice of naturopathic medicine in California. It clarifies that the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine is the governing body, and outlines what naturopathic childbirth attendance and medicine involve. It describes the role of a naturopathic doctor and what naturopathy entails, focusing on natural and noninvasive care. The law differentiates the roles and training required for naturopathic assistants, who help licensed naturopathic doctors and corporations, and how they must be supervised. It also defines terms like 'drug' under this scope and the concept of supervision and authorization in naturopathic practices.

The following definitions apply for the purposes of this chapter:

(a) “Board” means the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine. Any reference in any law or regulation to the Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine or the Naturopathic Medicine Committee shall be deemed to refer to the California Board of Naturopathic Medicine.

(b) “Naturopathic childbirth attendance” means the specialty practice of natural childbirth by a naturopathic doctor that includes the management of normal pregnancy, normal labor and delivery, and the normal postpartum period, including normal newborn care.

(c) “Naturopathic medicine” means a distinct and comprehensive system of primary health care practiced by a naturopathic doctor for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of human health conditions, injuries, and disease.

(d) “Naturopathic doctor” means a person who holds an active license issued pursuant to this chapter.

(e) “Naturopathy” means a noninvasive system of health practice that employs natural health modalities, substances, and education to promote health.

(f) “Drug” means any substance defined as a drug by Section 11014 of the Health and Safety Code.

(g) “Naturopathic assistant” means a person who may be unlicensed, who performs basic administrative, clerical, and technical supportive services in compliance with this chapter for a licensed naturopathic doctor or naturopathic corporation and who is at least 18 years of age, and who has had at least the minimum amount of hours of appropriate training pursuant to standards established by the Medical Board of California for a medical assistant pursuant to Section 2069. The naturopathic assistant shall be issued a certificate by the training institution or instructor indicating satisfactory completion of the required training. A copy of the certificate shall be retained as a record by each employer or the naturopathic assistant.

(h) “Naturopathic technical supportive services” means simple routine medical tasks and procedures that may be safely performed by a naturopathic assistant who has limited training and who functions under the supervision of a licensed naturopathic doctor.

(i) “Specific authorization” means a specific written order prepared by the supervising naturopathic doctor authorizing the procedures to be performed on a patient, which shall be placed in the patient’s medical record, or a standing order prepared by the supervising naturopathic doctor authorizing the procedures to be performed. A notation of the standing order shall be placed on the patient’s medical record.

(j) “Supervision” means the supervision of procedures authorized under this section or Section 3640.2 by a naturopathic doctor, within their scope of practice, who is physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.

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Section § 3615

This law says that if any part of this chapter is found to be invalid or unenforceable in court, the rest of the chapter still stands and can be applied. It's set up so that the law can function without the invalid section.

The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

severability invalid provision application unaffected