MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Representatives Broomfield, Bailey, Henderson (9th), Walker, Evans, Perkins

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-27-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRY; TO DEFINE PODIATRIST; TO AUTHORIZE PODIATRISTS TO PRESCRIBE DRUGS AND TESTS ESSENTIAL TO THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 73-27-15 AND 73-27-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 73-27-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-27-1. (1) The practice of podiatric medicine is that profession concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the human foot. For the purposes of this chapter, "foot" means that part of the human anatomy which consists of the tarsal bones, metatarsal bones, phalanges and all supportive and/or connective tissue immediately adjacent thereto, not to extend past the proximal end of the talus; this definition does not include the ankle or any structures proximal to it.

(2) A podiatrist is a medical care provider who engages in the practice of podiatric medicine.

(3) A podiatrist may prescribe and administer drugs and tests, excluding general and spinal anesthesia, that are essential to the practice of podiatric medicine when used for or in connection with treatment of disorders of the human foot.

SECTION 2. Section 73-27-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-27-15. * * * It shall be unlawful for any person to profess to be a podiatrist, to practice or assume the duties incident to podiatry without first obtaining from the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure a license authorizing the practice of podiatry in this state, except as otherwise provided by this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 73-27-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-27-19. This chapter shall not apply to physicians or surgeons licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in the State of Mississippi, nor to physicians or surgeons of the United States Army, Navy or the United States Public Health Service, when in actual performance of their duties or to legally registered podiatrists of another state taking charge of the practice of a locally registered podiatrist of this state, temporarily during the latter's absence therefrom, by written permission of the Secretary of the State Board of Medical Licensure.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.