2022 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 466 - Naturopathic doctors.
466.01 - Definitions.

466.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

(1) “Board" means the naturopathic medicine examining board.

(2) “Drug” has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (10).

(3) “Limited-scope naturopathic doctor" means an individual licensed under s. 466.04 (2).

(4) “Minor office procedure" includes the methods for the repair and care incidental to superficial lacerations, superficial abrasions, and superficial lesions and the removal of foreign bodies located in the superficial tissues.

(5) “Naturopathic doctor" means an individual licensed under s. 466.04 (1).

(6)

(a) “Naturopathic medicine” means, except as provided in par. (c), a system of primary health care for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human health conditions, injury, and disease; the promotion or restoration of health; and the support and stimulation of a patient's inherent self-healing processes through patient education and the use of naturopathic therapies and therapeutic substances, including all of the following:

1. Ordering and performing physical and laboratory examinations, for diagnostic purposes, consistent with naturopathic education and training, including all of the following:

a. Diagnostic or evaluation methods.

b. Physical examinations.

c. Clinical laboratory tests.

d. Diagnostic sonography.

e. Electrocardiography.

f. Phlebotomy.

2. Ordering diagnostic imaging studies.

3. Dispensing, administering, ordering, or performing any of the following:

a. Health education and health counseling.

b. Food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, and dietary supplements.

c. Hot or cold hydrotherapy, naturopathic physical medicine, the use of therapeutic medical equipment, and therapeutic exercise.

d. Devices, including therapeutic devices, barrier contraception, and durable medical equipment.

4. Recommending, dispensing, and administering nonprescription drug products.

5. Performing minor office procedures.

6. Signing and attesting to any certificates, cards, forms or other required documentation that a physician may sign, so long as it is within the naturopathic doctor's scope of practice. This subdivision does not supersede any federal or state statute, rule, or regulation.

(b) “Naturopathic medicine” includes ordering or performing any other diagnostic, therapeutic, or other procedure or practice identified in rules promulgated under s. 466.03 (2) (a).

(c) “Naturopathic medicine” does not include any of the following:

1. Performing any surgical procedure other than a minor office procedure.

2. Using general or spinal anesthetics.

3. Administering ionizing radioactive substances for therapeutic purposes.

4. Performing surgical procedures involving the eye, ear, tendons, nerves, veins, or arteries that extend beyond superficial tissue.

5. Performing any procedure or practice that is prohibited by the board by rule under s. 466.03 (2) (a) or that is excluded from the definition of naturopathic physical medicine under sub. (7) (b).

(d) “Naturopathic medicine” is distinct from the practice of medicine and surgery, as defined in s. 448.01 (9).

(7)

(a) “Naturopathic physical medicine” includes, except as provided in par. (b), manually administering mechanical treatment of body structures or tissues for the purpose of restoring normal physiological function to the body by normalizing and balancing the musculoskeletal system of the body, such as massage, stretching, resistance, or joint play examination.

(b) “Naturopathic physical medicine” does not include any of the following:

1. The employment or application of chiropractic or spinal adjustments and the principles or techniques of chiropractic science as described in s. 446.01 (2) (b).

2. The manipulation or adjustment of the spine or extremity joints of the human body beyond the elastic barrier, including small amplitude movement at or beyond the end range of normal joint motion.

(8) “Nonprescription drug product" has the meaning given in s. 450.01 (13m).

History: 2021 a. 130.