Offenses And Enforcement - Naturopathic Doctors Act - Business & Professions - CA

Section § 3660

If you want to call yourself a naturopathic doctor or use similar titles in California, you must have a valid and current license. You also need this license if you use initials like 'N.D.' or any other symbols suggesting you're qualified to practice naturopathic medicine.

Except as provided in subdivision (h) of Section 3644, a person shall have a valid, unrevoked, or unsuspended license issued under this chapter to do any of the following:

(a) To claim to be a naturopathic doctor, licensed naturopathic doctor, doctor of naturopathic medicine, doctor of naturopathy, or naturopathic medical doctor.

(b) To use the professional designation “N.D.” or other titles, words, letters, or symbols with the intent to represent that they practice, are authorized to practice, or are able to practice naturopathic medicine as a naturopathic doctor.

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Section § 3661

If you're a naturopathic doctor and you use "Dr." before your name, you must also clearly state your qualification, like "Naturopathic Doctor." You can't use any title suggesting you're a medical doctor in another field unless you're actually licensed in that field, such as a surgeon or chiropractor.

A naturopathic doctor who uses the term or designation “Dr.” shall further identify themselves as “Naturopathic Doctor,” “Licensed Naturopathic Doctor,” “Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine,” or “Doctor of Naturopathy” and shall not use any term or designation that would tend to indicate the practice of medicine, other than naturopathic medicine, unless otherwise licensed as a physician and surgeon, osteopathic doctor, or doctor of chiropractic.

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Section § 3662

This law states that it's considered unprofessional behavior for a naturopathic doctor to break, try to break, help someone else break, or plan to break any rules or regulations in their governing laws.

It shall constitute unprofessional conduct for a naturopathic doctor to violate, attempt to violate, assist in the violation of, or conspire to violate, any provision or term of this chapter or any regulation adopted under it.

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Section § 3663

This law says that the board is in charge of making sure that naturopathic doctors are practicing good quality care. If a naturopathic doctor behaves unprofessionally, the board has the power to discipline them. Before doing so, they must hold a hearing to decide whether to deny, suspend, or revoke their license, put them on probation, or formally reprimand them.

(a) The board shall have the responsibility for reviewing the quality of the practice of naturopathic medicine carried out by persons licensed as naturopathic doctors pursuant to this chapter.

(b) The board may discipline a naturopathic doctor for unprofessional conduct. After a hearing conducted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the board may deny, suspend, revoke, or place on probation the license of, or reprimand, censure, or otherwise discipline a naturopathic doctor in accordance with Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475).

naturopathic medicine license suspension unprofessional conduct ...

Section § 3663.5

This law requires licensed professionals on probation after July 1, 2019, to inform patients about their probation status before a patient's first visit. They must disclose details such as the probation length, restrictions, and how to access more information online. The patient or their guardian must sign this disclosure. However, the disclosure isn't needed in emergencies, if the patient can't understand it, or if the licensee has no direct relationship with the patient. The board must display probation details online for transparency, including the reasons for probation and any restrictions. Not following this rule isn't considered a criminal offense.

(a) On and after July 1, 2019, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), the board shall require a licensee to provide a separate disclosure that includes the licensee’s probation status, the length of the probation, the probation end date, all practice restrictions placed on the licensee by the board, the board’s telephone number, and an explanation of how the patient can find further information on the licensee’s probation on the licensee’s profile page on the board’s online license information internet website, to a patient or the patient’s guardian or health care surrogate before the patient’s first visit following the probationary order while the licensee is on probation pursuant to a probationary order made on and after July 1, 2019.

(b) A licensee required to provide a disclosure pursuant to subdivision (a) shall obtain from the patient, or the patient’s guardian or health care surrogate, a separate, signed copy of that disclosure.

(c) A licensee shall not be required to provide a disclosure pursuant to subdivision (a) if any of the following applies:

(1) The patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to comprehend the disclosure and sign the copy of the disclosure pursuant to subdivision (b) and a guardian or health care surrogate is unavailable to comprehend the disclosure and sign the copy.

(2) The visit occurs in an emergency room or an urgent care facility or the visit is unscheduled, including consultations in inpatient facilities.

(3) The licensee who will be treating the patient during the visit is not known to the patient until immediately prior to the start of the visit.

(4) The licensee does not have a direct treatment relationship with the patient.

(d) On and after July 1, 2019, the board shall provide the following information, with respect to licensees on probation and licensees practicing under probationary licenses, in plain view on the licensee’s profile page on the board’s online license information internet website.

(1) For probation imposed pursuant to a stipulated settlement, the causes alleged in the operative accusation along with a designation identifying those causes by which the licensee has expressly admitted guilt and a statement that acceptance of the settlement is not an admission of guilt.

(2) For probation imposed by an adjudicated decision of the board, the causes for probation stated in the final probationary order.

(3) For a licensee granted a probationary license, the causes by which the probationary license was imposed.

(4) The length of the probation and end date.

(5) All practice restrictions placed on the license by the board.

(e) A violation of this section shall not be punishable as a crime.

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Section § 3664

If someone breaks the rules outlined in Section 3660 or 3661, they're committing a misdemeanor. If convicted, they could be fined up to $5,000, spend up to a year in county jail, or both.

A person who violates Section 3660 or 3661 is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by imprisonment of not more than one year in a county jail, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

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Naturopathic Doctors Act

Naturopathic Doctors ActOffenses and Enforcement

Section § 3660

Section § 3661

Section § 3662

Section § 3663

Section § 3663.5

Section § 3664

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