2018 California Code
Business and Professions Code - BPC
DIVISION 2 - HEALING ARTS
CHAPTER 8.2 - Naturopathic Doctors Act
ARTICLE 1 - General Provisions
Section 3613.

The following definitions apply for the purposes of this chapter:

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

(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 his or her scope of practice, who is physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 523, Sec. 3. (SB 1246) Effective January 1, 2011. Repealed as of January 1, 2022, pursuant to Section 3686.)