01. General definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the term: (1) 'Board' means the Board of Dentistry, the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition, the Board of Integrative Healthcare, the Board of Medicine, the Board of Nursing, the Board of Optometry, the Board of Pharmacy, the Board of Podiatry, the Board of Professional Counseling, the Board of Psychology, the Board of Rehabilitative Therapies, the Board of Respiratory Care, the Board of Social Work, or the Board of Veterinary Medicine established by this chapter, as the context requires. (1A) 'Boards of Allied Health' means the Board of Dentistry, the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition, the Board of Massage Therapy, the Board of Optometry, the Board of Podiatry, the Board of Rehabilitative Therapies, and the Board of Respiratory Care. (1B) 'Boards of Behavioral Health' means the Board of Professional Counseling, the Board of Psychology, and the Board of Social Work. (1B-i) 'Certified midwife' means a person licensed in the District under this chapter to practice certified midwifery who has graduated from a graduate-level midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education or e District under this chapter to practice certified midwifery who has graduated from a graduate-level midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education or its successor organization and holds a valid certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board or its successor organization. (1C) 'Certified nurse-midwife' means a qualified registered nurse who holds a valid certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board. (1D) 'Certified professional midwife' or 'CPM' means a person licensed in the District under this chapter to practice certified professional midwifery who holds a valid certification from the North American Registry of Midwives. (1E) Repealed. (2) 'Collaboration' means the process in which health professionals jointly contribute to the health care of patients with each collaborator performing actions he or she is licensed or otherwise authorized to perform pursuant to this chapter. (3) Repealed. (4) 'Council' means the Council of the District of Columbia. (5) 'Day' means calendar day unless otherwise specified in this chapter. (6) 'District' means the District of Columbia. ter. (3) Repealed. (4) 'Council' means the Council of the District of Columbia. (5) 'Day' means calendar day unless otherwise specified in this chapter. (6) 'District' means the District of Columbia. (6A) 'Domestic partner' shall have the same meaning as provided in § 32-701(3). (6B) 'Domestic partnership' shall have the same meaning as provided in § 32-701(4). (6C) 'Doula' means an individual certified by the Board of Medicine to provide culturally competent and continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing parent during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. (6C-i) 'Electronic form' means a record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means. (6D) 'Financial exploitation' means the non-accidental act or omission by a health professional, without the consent of the patient, client, or employer, causing monetary or property loss to the patient, client, or employer, or monetary or property gain to the health professional which gain would otherwise benefit a patient, client, or employer, but for the non-accidental action or omission of the health professional. r, or monetary or property gain to the health professional which gain would otherwise benefit a patient, client, or employer, but for the non-accidental action or omission of the health professional. Financial exploitation may result from consent obtained as a result of misrepresentation, undue influence, coercion, or threat of force by the health professional. Financial exploitation may not result from a bona fide gift. (7) 'Health occupation' means a practice that is regulated under the authority of this chapter. (8) 'Health professional' means a person licensed under this chapter or permitted by this chapter to practice a health occupation in the District. (9) 'Impaired health professional' means a health professional who is unable to perform his or her professional responsibilities reliably due to a mental or physical disorder, excessive use of alcohol, or habitual use of any narcotic or controlled substance or any other drug in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication. (9A) 'Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive' means a contraceptive that requires administering less than once per cycle or month. in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication. (9A) 'Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive' means a contraceptive that requires administering less than once per cycle or month. (10) 'Mayor' means the Mayor of the District of Columbia. (10A) Repealed. (10B) Repealed. (10C) Repealed. (10D) 'Patient-client' means a person under the care of a health professional providing maternal services and such person's fetus or newborn. (11) 'Person' means an individual, corporation, trustee, receiver, guardian, representative, firm, partnership, society, school, or other entity. (11A) 'Personal medical record' means: (A) A copy of a medical bill or a medical billing record with individually identifiable health information, including an audit trail of any additions, deletions, or revisions to the record; or (B) Protected health information as defined in 45 C.F.R. § 160.103. (11B) 'Postpartum' means the time after delivery when maternal physiological changes related to pregnancy return to the nonpregnant state, which may last for as long as 12 months after delivery. (12) Repealed. tpartum' means the time after delivery when maternal physiological changes related to pregnancy return to the nonpregnant state, which may last for as long as 12 months after delivery. (12) Repealed. (12A) 'Revocation' means termination of the right to practice a health profession and loss of licensure, registration, or certification for 5 years or more. (12B) 'Self-administered hormonal contraceptive' means a contraceptive containing hormones approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that is administered by the patient orally, transdermally, or vaginally. (13) 'State' means any of the several states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States. (14) 'Superior Court' means the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. (15) 'Suspension' means termination of the right to practice a health profession for a specified period of time or until such time that the specified conditions in an order are satisfied. (15A) 'Telehealth' means the use of synchronous or asynchronous telecommunication technology to provide access to health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, supervision, and information where Telehealth' means the use of synchronous or asynchronous telecommunication technology to provide access to health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, supervision, and information where the health professional and the patient, client, or supervisee are located at different physical locations. (16) 'Veterinarian' means a person who is a graduate of a school of veterinary medicine and has received a doctorate in veterinary medicine or its equivalent and is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the District. (17) 'Veterinary euthanasia technician' means a person certified by the Mayor to euthanize animals within the District. (18) 'Veterinary facility' means a fixed or mobile establishment where veterinary medicine is practiced. The term 'veterinary facility' shall not include: (A) Wildlife rehabilitation facilities, as defined in § 47-2888.01(3); and (B) Animal shelters, as defined in § 47-2888.01(1). (19) 'Veterinary technician' means a person certified by the Mayor to perform acts relating to maintenance of the health or treatment of an animal, except for the performance of surgery, diagnosis, or prescribing of medication for any animal. (Mar. 25, 1986, D.C. or to perform acts relating to maintenance of the health or treatment of an animal, except for the performance of surgery, diagnosis, or prescribing of medication for any animal. (Mar. 25, 1986, D.C. Law 6-99, § 101, 33 DCR 729; July 22, 1992, D.C. Law 9-126, § 2(a), 39 DCR 3824; Mar. 14, 1995, D.C. Law 10-203, § 2(a), 41 DCR 7707; Mar. 21, 1995, D.C. Law 10-231, § 2(a), 42 DCR 15; Mar. 23, 1995, D.C. Law 10-247, § 2(a), 42 DCR 457; Mar. 10, 2004, D.C. Law 15-88, § 2(b), 50 DCR 10999; Mar. 6, 2007, D.C. Law 16-219, § 2(b), 53 DCR 10211; June 25, 2008, D.C. Law 17-177, § 6(a), 55 DCR 3696; Sept. 12, 2008, D.C. Law 17-231, § 10(a), 55 DCR 6758; July 7, 2009, D.C. Law 18-15, § 2(b), 56 DCR 3616; July 18, 2009, D.C. Law 18-26, § 2(b), 56 DCR 4043; Mar. 26, 2014, D.C. Law 20-96, § 102(b), 61 DCR 1184; May 2, 2015, D.C. Law 20-272, § 2(b), 62 DCR 1911; Mar. 28, 2018, D.C. Law 22-75, § 2(a), 65 DCR 1374; Feb. 22, 2019, D.C. Law 22-227, § 101(a), 66 DCR 197; June 17, 2020, D.C. Law 23-97, § 2(b)(1), 67 DCR 3912; Nov. 13, 2021, D.C. Law 24-45, § 5042(b), 68 DCR 010163; Dec. 29, 2021, D.C. Law 24-46, § 2(b)(1), 68 DCR 011642; Sept. 21, 2022, D.C. Law 24-170, § 3(a), 69 DCR 009207; Mar. § 2(b)(1), 67 DCR 3912; Nov. 13, 2021, D.C. Law 24-45, § 5042(b), 68 DCR 010163; Dec. 29, 2021, D.C. Law 24-46, § 2(b)(1), 68 DCR 011642; Sept. 21, 2022, D.C. Law 24-170, § 3(a), 69 DCR 009207; Mar. 10, 2023, D.C. Law 24-290, § 2(b), 70 DCR 553; July 19, 2024, D.C. Law 25-191, § 101(b), 71 DCR 6698.) Prior Codifications 1981 Ed., § 2-3301.1. Section References This section is referenced in § 4-1321.02, § 7-2341.01, § 7-2341.03, § 7-2341.06, § 7-2341.08, § 21-501.01, § 22-1314.01, § 29-502, § 31-3171.01, and § 42-3505.07. Applicability Section 7078 of D.C. Law 23-149 repealed section 6 of D.C. Law 23-97 removing the applicability provision impacting this section. Therefore, the amendment of this section by Law 23-97 has been implemented. Applicability of D.C. Law 23-97: § 6 of D.C. Law 23-97 provided that the change made to this section by § 2(b)(1) of D.C. Law 23-97 is subject to the inclusion of the law’s fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan. Therefore that amendment has not been implemented. Emergency Legislation For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5042(b) of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-159, Aug. ndment has not been implemented. Emergency Legislation For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 5042(b) of Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-159, Aug. 23, 2021, 68 DCR 008602). For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(a) of Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2018 (D.C. Act 22-266, Feb. 21, 2018, 65 DCR 2119). For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Health Occupations Revision General Amendment Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-146, July 28, 2009, 56 DCR 6308). Editor's Notes Section 5 of D.C. Law 23-97 provided that the Mayor, pursuant to Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue rules to implement the provisions of D.C. Law 23-97. Health Regulation Reform Task Force: Title III of D.C. Law 12-86 provided in detail for the establishment of a Health Regulation Reform Task Force, to consist of 11 members appointed by the Mayor. The Health Task Force was required to submit a written review of the boards created by the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, Chapter 33 of Title 2Chapter 12 of Title 3 including recommendations was required to submit a written review of the boards created by the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, Chapter 33 of Title 2Chapter 12 of Title 3 including recommendations for the restructuring or consolidation of the boards and of the licensing procedures. The Task Force was to cease to exist 60 days after submission of the report. Delegation of Authority Delegation of authority pursuant to Law 6-99, see Mayor’s Order 86-110, July 18, 1986. Delegation of authority pursuant to the 'District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985', see Mayor’s Order 98-140, August 20, 1998 ( 45 DCR 6593).
District of Columbia Legal Code