ARTICLE 6. Offenses and Enforcement [3660 - 3664]
( Article 6 added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 485, Sec. 5. )
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.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 497, Sec. 45. (SB 1526) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)
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.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 497, Sec. 46. (SB 1526) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)
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.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 485, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)
(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).
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 497, Sec. 47. (SB 1526) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)
(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.
(Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 497, Sec. 48. (SB 1526) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)
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.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 485, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2004. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)