Title 43, Chapter 9, Section 16
( 43-9-16)
(a) Chiropractors who have complied with this chapter shall have the right to practice chiropractic as defined in paragraph (2) of Code Section 43-9-1 and to adjust patients according to specific chiropractic methods. Chiropractors shall observe public health regulations. (b) The chiropractic adjustment of the articulations of the human
body may include manual adjustments and adjustments by means of
electrical and mechanical devices which produce traction or
vibration. Chiropractors who have complied with this chapter may
also use in conjunction with adjustments of the spinal structures
electrical therapeutic modalities which induce heat or electrical
current beneath the skin, including therapeutic ultrasound,
galvanism, microwave, diathermy, and electromuscular stimulation.
Chiropractors who have complied with this chapter may utilize and
recommend hot and cold packs and nonprescription, over-the-counter
structural supports for the articulations of the human body which
are commonly available through retail pharmacy outlets; provided,
however, the same shall not be construed to allow chiropractors to
treat patients outside the scope of practice of chiropractic as set
forth in this chapter. (c) Chiropractors who have complied with this chapter may utilize
those electric therapeutic modalities described in subsection (b) of
this Code section, provided the chiropractor shall have completed a
course of study containing a minimum of 120 hours of instruction in
the proper utilization of those procedures in accordance with the
guidelines set forth by the Council on Chiropractic Education or its
successor and is qualified and so certified in that proper
utilization. (d) Chiropractors who have complied with this chapter shall have the
right to sign health certificates, reporting to the proper health
officers the same as other practitioners. (e) Chiropractors shall not prescribe or administer medicine to
patients, perform surgery, or practice obstetrics or osteopathy. (f) Chiropractors shall not use venipuncture, capillary puncture,
acupuncture, or any other technique which is invasive of the human
body either by penetrating the skin or through any of the orifices
of the body or through the use of colonics. Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed to prohibit a chiropractor who is
licensed to perform acupuncture under Article 3 of Chapter 34 of
this title from engaging in the practice of acupuncture. (g) A person professing to practice chiropractic for compensation
must bring to the exercise of that person's profession a reasonable
degree of care and skill. Any injury resulting from a want of such
care and skill shall be a tort for which a recovery may be had. If a
chiropractor performs upon a patient any act authorized to be so
performed under this chapter but which act also constitutes a
standard procedure of the practice of medicine, including but not
limited to the use of modalities such as those described in
subsection (b) of this Code section and X-rays, under similar
circumstances the chiropractor shall be held to the same standard of
care as would licensed doctors of medicine who are qualified to and
who actually perform those acts under similar conditions and like
circumstances. (h) A licensed practitioner of chiropractic may use only the title
"chiropractor," or "doctor of chiropractic," or "D.C." (i) Chiropractors who have complied with this chapter may recommend
the use of vitamins, minerals, or food supplements. Any such
recommendation of vitamins, minerals, or food supplements shall not
be construed to allow chiropractors to treat patients outside the
scope of the practice of chiropractic as set forth in this chapter
nor shall this subsection be construed to allow chiropractors to
sell at a profit any such vitamins, minerals, or food supplements
without providing their generic name. Nothing in this subsection
shall preclude compliance with Chapter 8 of Title 48, relating to
the collection of sales and use taxes. |