CHAPTER 375*

PODIATRY

*See Sec. 19a-88b re renewal of certain professional and occupational licenses, certificates, permits or registrations which become void while the holder is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States.

See Secs. 20-14c to 20-14g, inclusive, re dispensing and labeling of drugs by licensed practitioners.

Cited. 207 C. 674; 208 C. 709; 242 C. 1.

Table of Contents

Sec. 20-50. Podiatric medicine defined.

Sec. 20-50a. Requirements for surgery.

Sec. 20-51. Examining board: Appointment and qualifications.

Secs. 20-52 and 20-53. Removals from examining board. Organization and rules.

Sec. 20-54. Qualifications for general practice, medical and nonsurgical treatment of the ankle and surgical treatment of the ankle. Licensure. Exception for surgery under the direct supervision of a physician or surgeon. Effect of license on hospital privileges.

Sec. 20-54a. Convening of panel to establish protocol for permitting certain licensed podiatrists to perform total ankle replacement surgery. Report.

Sec. 20-55. Examinations. Fees.

Sec. 20-56. List of practitioners to be filed.

Sec. 20-57. Licensure without examination.

Sec. 20-58. Transmittal of certificate to Department of Health Services. License.

Sec. 20-58a. Professional liability insurance required, when. Amount of insurance. Reporting requirements.

Sec. 20-59. Disciplinary action by board; grounds.

Secs. 20-60 to 20-62. Jurisdiction of charges against practitioner; hearing; revocation or suspension of license. Appeal. Restoration of right to practice upon reversal of conviction.

Sec. 20-63. Title “Doctor” not to be used.

Sec. 20-64. Ownership or operation of office.

Sec. 20-65. Penalty.

Secs. 20-65a to 20-65e. Reserved


Sec. 20-50. Podiatric medicine defined. “Podiatric medicine” means the diagnosis and treatment, including medical and surgical treatment, of ailments of the foot and ankle and all the anatomical structures of the foot and ankle and the administration and prescription of drugs incidental thereto, in accordance with section 20-54. “Podiatric medicine” includes treatment of local manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear on the foot and ankle, in accordance with section 20-54. A doctor of podiatric medicine, licensed pursuant to this chapter may prescribe, administer and dispense drugs and controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV or V, in accordance with section 21a-252, in connection with the practice of podiatric medicine.

(1949 Rev., S. 4552; 1955, S. 2273d; 1963, P.A. 354, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 578, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 859; P.A. 73-681, S. 23, 29; P.A. 74-338, S. 21, 94; P.A. 75-567, S. 35, 80; P.A. 76-99; P.A. 91-113, S. 1; P.A. 99-102, S. 22; P.A. 18-168, S. 69.)

History: 1963 act updated statute, deleting reference to term “chiropody”; 1969 act redefined podiatry to include prescription, administering and dispensing of drugs other than Class A drugs and to clarify surgery allowed as that involving use of local anesthetic only; 1971 act substituted “forefoot forward of the tarsal bones but excluding operations on the bones of the tarsus” for “phalanges but limited to those structures of foot superficial to the inner layer of the fascia of the foot”; P.A. 73-681 replaced “Class A” drugs under federal narcotic laws with “Schedule II” drugs under Sec. 19-450(b); P.A. 74-338 specified drugs which may be prescribed, etc. as “controlled substances under schedules II, III, IV or V” rather than as drugs “except those drugs designated as schedule II” under Sec. 19-450(b); P.A. 75-567 added reference to drugs, in addition to controlled substances; P.A. 76-99 redefined surgery which may be performed, deleting reference to structures of forefoot forward of tarsal bones and allowing surgery under general anesthetic if performed as required in statute; P.A. 91-113 entirely replaced previous provisions, deleting the definition of podiatry and replacing it with a new definition of podiatric medicine and deleting the requirements for surgery; P.A. 99-102 deleted obsolete reference to Subsec. (d) of Sec. 21a-252; P.A. 18-168 inserted references to “ankle” and Sec. 20-54, and made technical changes.

See Secs. 20-14c to 20-14g, inclusive, re dispensing and labeling of drugs by licensed practitioners.

The supplying of extremely well-fitting custom shoes does not constitute the practice of chiropody. 146 C. 613. Cited. 203 C. 295. “Ankle” not included in definition of “foot”. 208 C. 709.

Cited. 46 CA 391.

Sec. 20-50a. Requirements for surgery. Podiatric surgery requiring an anesthetic other than a local anesthetic shall be performed in a facility accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or a freestanding surgery center accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, by a licensed podiatrist who is accredited by the credentials committee of the medical staff of such facility to perform podiatric surgery in conformance with rules promulgated by the chief of the surgical department of said facility taking into account the training, experience, demonstrated competence and judgment of each such licensed podiatrist, and such podiatrist shall comply with such rules. Podiatric surgery shall not include amputation of the leg or foot other than from the transmetatarsal level to the toes.

(P.A. 91-113, S. 2; P.A. 97-213, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 97-213 added reference to transmetatarsal level re amputation.

Sec. 20-51. Examining board: Appointment and qualifications. The Connecticut Board of Examiners in Podiatry shall consist of five members. The Governor shall appoint three members of said board who shall be resident practicing podiatrists of good standing in their profession and graduates of approved colleges or schools of chiropody or podiatry and two public members. The Governor shall appoint a chairman from among such members. Said board shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter and at such other times as the chairman deems necessary. Special meetings shall be held on the request of a majority of the board after notice in accordance with the provisions of section 1-225. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Members shall not be compensated for their services. Any member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings or who fails to attend fifty per cent of all meetings held during any calendar year shall be deemed to have resigned from office. Minutes of all meetings shall be recorded by the board. No member shall participate in the affairs of the board during the pendency of any disciplinary proceedings by the board against such member. No professional member shall be an elected or appointed officer of a professional society of podiatrists or have been such an officer during the year immediately preceding his appointment. No member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms which commence after July 1, 1980.

(1949 Rev., S. 4553; 1957, P.A. 369; 1961, P.A. 142; 1971, P.A. 617, S. 1; P.A. 77-614, S. 375, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 166, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 18, 71; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12, S. 18, 55; P.A. 98-143, S. 7, 24.)

History: 1961 act updated statute, substituting Connecticut Podiatry Association, Incorporated, for Connecticut Chiropody Society, Incorporated; 1971 act increased board membership from three to five, revised appointment provisions, increasing terms from three to five years after initial staggered terms, and removed health commissioner as ex-officio member; P.A. 77-614 reduced podiatrist members from five to three and added two public members, deleted October first as appointment date, provisions re terms and reference to nominations by Podiatry Association for filling vacancy, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 required that podiatrist members be currently practicing but not that they have practiced continuously for three years as was previously required, deleted provision re appointments from nominees of Podiatry Association and re filling of vacancies and added provisions re meetings, expense reimbursements, members' attendance, duties, etc.; P.A. 81-471 changed “elected official” to “elected or appointed officer” as of July 1, 1981, and inserted provision prohibiting members serving for more than two consecutive terms; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-12 eliminated expense reimbursement for board members; P.A. 98-143 added quorum provision, effective July 1, 1998.

See Sec. 4-9a for definition of “public member”.

See Sec. 4-10 re appointment of board and commission members from lists presented to Governor.

See Sec. 4-40a re compensation and expense of licensing boards and commissions.

See Secs. 19a-8 to 19a-12, inclusive, re powers and duties of boards and commissions within Department of Public Health.

Cited. 207 C. 674.

Cited. 22 CA 181.

Secs. 20-52 and 20-53. Removals from examining board. Organization and rules. Sections 20-52 and 20-53 are repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 4554, 4555; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 16; P.A. 77-510; 77-614, S. 376, 609, 610; P.A 80-484, S. 175, 176.)

Sec. 20-54. Qualifications for general practice, medical and nonsurgical treatment of the ankle and surgical treatment of the ankle. Licensure. Exception for surgery under the direct supervision of a physician or surgeon. Effect of license on hospital privileges. (a) No person other than those described in section 20-57 and those to whom a license has been reissued as provided by section 20-59 shall engage in the practice of podiatry in this state until such person has presented to the department satisfactory evidence that such person has received a diploma or other certificate of graduation from an accredited school or college of chiropody or podiatry approved by the Connecticut Board of Examiners in Podiatry with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, nor shall any person so practice until such person has obtained a license from the Department of Public Health after meeting the requirements of this chapter. A graduate of an approved school of chiropody or podiatry subsequent to July 1, 1947, shall present satisfactory evidence that he or she has been a resident student through not less than four graded courses of not less than thirty-two weeks each in such approved school and has received the degree of D.S.C., Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, or Pod. D., Doctor of Podiatry, or other equivalent degree; and, if a graduate of an approved chiropody or podiatry school subsequent to July 1, 1951, that he or she has completed, before beginning the study of podiatry, a course of study of an academic year of not less than thirty-two weeks' duration in a college or scientific school approved by said board with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, which course included the study of chemistry and physics or biology; and if a graduate of an approved college of podiatry or podiatric medicine subsequent to July 1, 1971, that he or she has completed a course of study of two such prepodiatry college years, including the study of chemistry, physics or mathematics and biology, and that he or she received the degree of D.P.M., Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. No provision of this section shall be construed to prevent graduates of a podiatric college, approved by the Connecticut Board of Examiners in Podiatry with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health, from receiving practical training in podiatry in a residency program in an accredited hospital facility which program is accredited by the Council on Podiatric Education.

(b) A licensed podiatrist who is board qualified or certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery or the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, or said boards' successor organizations, may engage in the medical and nonsurgical treatment of the ankle and the anatomical structures of the ankle, as well as the administration and prescription of drugs incidental thereto, and the nonsurgical treatment of manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear on the ankle. Such licensed podiatrist shall restrict treatment of displaced ankle fractures to the initial diagnosis and the initial attempt at closed reduction at the time of presentation and shall not treat tibial pilon fractures. For purposes of this section, “ankle” means the distal metaphysis and epiphysis of the tibia and fibula, the articular cartilage of the distal tibia and distal fibula, the ligaments that connect the distal metaphysis and epiphysis of the tibia and fibula and the talus, and the portions of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscles, tendons and nerves at or below the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae.

(c) A licensed podiatrist may independently engage in the surgical treatment of the ankle, including the surgical treatment of the anatomical structures of the ankle, as well as the administration and prescription of drugs incidental thereto, and the surgical treatment of manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear on the ankle, after the podiatrist provides documentation to the Department of Public Health of the following: (1) (A) Graduation on or after June 1, 2006, from a three-year residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education, or its successor organization, at the time of graduation, and (B) current board certification or qualification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, or its successor organization; or (2) (A) graduation prior to June 1, 2006, from a residency program in podiatric medicine and surgery that was at least two years in length and accredited at the time of graduation by said council, and (B) current board certification or qualification in reconstructive rearfoot ankle surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, or its successor organization. For purposes of this section, “surgical treatment of the ankle” includes all soft tissue and osseous procedures, including ankle fracture fixation, ankle fusion, ankle arthroscopy, insertion or removal of external fixation pins into or from the tibial diaphysis at or below the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae, insertion and removal of retrograde tibiotalocalcaneal intramedullary rods and locking screws up to the level of the myotendinous junction of the triceps surae and Chopart joint-level amputation, but does not include the surgical treatment of complications within the tibial diaphysis related to the use of external fixation pins, the performance of total ankle replacements or the treatment of tibial pilon fractures.

(d) The Department of Public Health shall implement a mechanism for (1) a podiatrist to provide the documentation required pursuant to subsection (c) of this section as part of the initial licensure application, and (2) credentialing boards and the public to access the names of podiatrists who submitted the documentation required pursuant to said subsection. Any podiatrist who, on October 1, 2018, held a standard ankle surgery permit issued by the department shall be considered to have met the documentation requirements set forth in said subsection.

(e) A licensed podiatrist who is board certified in foot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, or its successor organization, may engage in the surgical treatment of the ankle, provided such licensed podiatrist is performing such procedures under the direct supervision of a physician or surgeon licensed under chapter 370 who maintains hospital privileges to perform such procedures or under the direct supervision of a licensed podiatrist who under the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, as appropriate, may independently engage in ankle surgery procedures.

(f) The Department of Public Health's issuance of a license to a podiatrist to independently engage in surgery shall not be construed to obligate a hospital or outpatient surgical facility to grant such licensed podiatrist privileges to perform such procedures at the hospital or outpatient surgical facility. A podiatrist's privileges and scope of practice for foot surgery are not impacted by the podiatrist's privileges or scope of practice for ankle surgery.

(1949 Rev., S. 4552, 4556; 1949, S. 2274d; 1955, S. 2273d; 1963, P.A. 247; 1971, P.A. 124; 1972, P.A. 232; P.A. 76-113, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 25, 176; P.A. 81-472, S. 133, 159; P.A. 91-113, S. 3; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 06-160, S. 1; P.A. 07-252, S. 25, 34; P.A. 13-305, S. 4; P.A. 18-168, S. 70; P.A. 24-112, S. 1.)

History: 1963 act added provision re one who has received a degree equivalent to a D.S.C. or Pod. D; 1971 act added requirements applicable to persons graduating from approved podiatry colleges after July 1, 1971; 1972 act allowed mathematics study as alternative to physics study for graduates after July 1, 1971; P.A. 76-113 deleted citizenship requirement for applicants; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 substituted “license” for “certificate”, required presentation of credentials to health services department rather than to board of examiners, required consent of health services commissioner for approval of schools or colleges and deleted requirements that applicant be or intends to become a resident, that he be of good moral character and that he have received from board of examiners a certificate of qualification; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 91-113 amended section to clarify residency programs for graduates of podiatric colleges and to specify that diploma or certificate must be from an accredited school or college; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 06-160 designated existing language as Subsec. (a) and made technical changes therein for the purpose of gender neutrality, and added Subsec. (b) defining “ankle” and authorizing certain qualified or certified licensed podiatrists to engage in medical and nonsurgical treatment of the ankle; P.A. 07-252 amended Subsec. (a) by eliminating requirement that applicants present evidence of a high school education or its equivalent, made a technical change in Subsec. (b) and added Subsecs. (c) to (i) establishing qualifications for obtaining a permit to engage in surgical treatment of the ankle, standard ankle surgery procedures and advanced ankle surgery procedures and establishing qualifications for engaging in standard and advanced ankle surgery procedures without a permit, establishing an advisory committee to assist and advise commissioner in evaluating applicants' credentials, requiring adoption of regulations specifying credentials necessary to obtain a permit for engaging in standard or advanced ankle surgery procedures and preserving rights of hospitals and outpatient surgical facilities re granting privileges to perform procedures; P.A. 13-305 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting provision re exception for performance of tibial and fibular osteotomies, amended Subsec. (e) by substituting “qualification” for “certification” in Subdiv. (1)(B), and amended Subsec. (h) by adding provision requiring commissioner to adopt regulations not later than July 1, 2015; P.A. 18-168 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “American Board of Podiatric Surgery or the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine” with “American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery or the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, or said boards' successor organizations,”, substantially amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) including by adding provisions re surgical treatment of the ankle, deleted former Subsec. (e) re permit to independently engage in advanced ankle surgery procedures, redesignated Subsec. (f) as new Subsec. (e) and amended same to delete provisions re podiatrist qualifications to engage in surgical treatment of the ankle, deleted former Subsecs. (g) and (h), redesignated Subsec. (i) as Subsec. (f) and amended same to add provision re podiatrist's privileges and scope of practice, and made technical and conforming changes; P.A. 24-112 amended Subsec. (c) by making a technical change and adding provision authorizing podiatrists to perform Chopart joint-level amputations.

See Sec. 19a-88 re annual renewal of licenses.

Cited. 207 C. 674.

Sec. 20-54a. Convening of panel to establish protocol for permitting certain licensed podiatrists to perform total ankle replacement surgery. Report. (a) The cochairpersons of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health shall convene a panel comprised of two representatives each from an organization representing podiatrists in the state and an organization representing orthopedic physicians in the state to develop, not later than August 1, 2024, a protocol for permitting licensed podiatrists who have provided documentation to the Department of Public Health of meeting the requirements set forth in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of section 20-54, to perform total ankle replacement surgery. The protocol shall consist of a description of the experience, skill and training requirements for performance of such surgery and the procedure for assessing whether a podiatrist has the requisite experience, skill and training. Not later September 1, 2024, the panel shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, regarding the panel's protocol to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and the Commissioner of Public Health. Not later than October 1, 2024, the commissioner shall post such protocol on the Department of Public Health's Internet web site.

(b) On and after October 1, 2024, a licensed podiatrist who has provided documentation to the Department of Public Health of meeting the requirements set forth in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of section 20-54 may apply to a hospital in the state for privileges to perform total ankle replacement surgery at such hospital. A hospital may, at a minimum, utilize the protocol developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to assess whether a podiatrist has the requisite experience, skill and training to perform total ankle replacement surgery at such hospital.

(c) A podiatrist who has been approved by a hospital for privileges to perform total ankle replacement surgery pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may perform such surgery at such hospital.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a hospital to grant a podiatrist privileges to perform total ankle replacement surgery at the hospital.

(P.A. 24-112, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 24-112 effective June 4, 2024.

Sec. 20-55. Examinations. Fees. The Department of Public Health shall hold examinations under the supervision of the board at least once each year and on such other days and at such time and place as the department may designate. Candidates shall be examined in the following subjects: Anatomy and histology, physiology, dermatology and syphilology, bacteriology and pathology, chemistry, pharmacy and materia medica, theory and practice of podiatry, including diagnosis, podiatric orthopedics and therapeutics in all branches as taught and practiced in the approved schools and colleges of podiatry. The fee for such examination shall be five hundred sixty-five dollars. The examination shall be prescribed by the department with the advice and consent of the board. Passing scores shall be established by the department with the consent of the board.

(1949 Rev., S. 4557; 1957, P.A. 174, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 17; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 46; P.A. 77-614, S. 377, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 26, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 19, 71; P.A. 89-251, S. 77, 203; P.A. 91-113, S. 4; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 20, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 186.)

History: 1959 act increased examination fee from $35 to $50; 1971 act raised examination fees to $100; P.A. 77-614 placed examinations within jurisdiction of department of health services rather than board of examiners except that board establishes content of examination and time and place examination given, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 essentially transferred all examination duties to department, retaining board in supervisory and advisory capacity and added provision re establishment of passing scores; P.A. 81-471 deleted requirement that examination be held on second Tuesday of July and provided that examination is to be held at least once each year; P.A. 89-251 increased the examination fee from $100 to $300; P.A. 91-113 replaced reference to chiropodical orthopedics to podiatric orthopedics; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised examination fee from $300 to $450; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased fee from $450 to $565.

Cited. 207 C. 674.

Sec. 20-56. List of practitioners to be filed. The board shall file with the department a list of the practitioners of podiatry, which list said department shall keep on file until replaced by a new list established by the board.

(1949 Rev., S. 4564; P.A. 77-614, S. 378, 610; P.A. 81-471, S. 20, 71.)

History: P.A. 77-614 rephrased provision to reflect department's assumption of responsibility for examinations; P.A. 81-471 deleted requirement that examination questions and answers be retained by the department of health services for at least 90 days.

Cited. 207 C. 674.

Sec. 20-57. Licensure without examination. The Department of Public Health may accept a certificate issued by the National Board of Podiatry Examiners or the license of any state board of podiatry examiners or duly authorized licensing agency of any state in the United States or in the District of Columbia, in lieu of the written examination provided for in this chapter, if the department finds that such applicant has been graduated from a chiropody or podiatry school or college recognized by the Connecticut Board of Examiners in Podiatry at the time of his graduation from such school or college and that such state board or licensing agency maintains standards for licensure determined by the department to be equal to or higher than those of this state, and that he has presented to said department evidence showing him to be of good professional standing, provided the application shall be accompanied by a fee of five hundred sixty-five dollars. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint. The department shall inform the board annually of the number of applications it receives for licensure under this section.

(1949 Rev., S. 4558; 1955, S. 2275d; 1957, P.A. 174, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 18; 1963, P.A. 334; February, 1965, P.A. 568, S. 1; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 47; P.A. 73-634; P.A. 76-113, S. 5; P.A. 80-484, S. 27, 176; P.A. 89-251, S. 78, 203; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-210, S. 23, 30; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 187.)

History: 1959 act increased application fee from $75; 1963 act added provision re acceptance by board of certificate issued by National Board of Podiatry Examiners; 1965 act added certification by National Board of Podiatry Examiners as exception to 5-year practice requirement; 1971 act increased application fee from $100 to $150; P.A. 73-634 permitted board to require that applicant pass an oral and practical examination; P.A. 76-113 deleted citizenship requirement for applicants; P.A. 80-484 transferred powers to waive written examination, etc. from board of examiners to health services department, deleted provision re oral and practical examinations and requirements that applicant be or intends to become a resident, that he have practiced continuously for 5 years that he be of good moral character, replaced “certificate of qualification” with “license” and prohibited issuance of license to applicants against whom disciplinary action is pending or who are subject of an unresolved complaint and required that board be informed of number of applications annually; P.A. 89-251 increased the application fee from $150 to $450; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-210 added reference to duly authorized licensing agency of any state, replaced requirement that examination be substantially similar to or of higher quality than Connecticut examination with requirement that exam be equal to or higher than Connecticut exam in quality, removed reciprocity requirement and requirement of 10 years of practice outside of state if in state examination is not passed, effective June 9, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 increased application fee from $450 to $565.

Cited. 207 C. 674.

Sec. 20-58. Transmittal of certificate to Department of Health Services. License. Section 20-58 is repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 4563; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 19; P.A. 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)

Sec. 20-58a. Professional liability insurance required, when. Amount of insurance. Reporting requirements. (a) Each person licensed to practice podiatric medicine under the provisions of section 20-54 or 20-57 who provides direct patient care services shall maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice. The amount of insurance which each such person shall carry as insurance or indemnity against claims for injury or death for professional malpractice shall not be less than five hundred thousand dollars for one person, per occurrence, with an aggregate of not less than one million five hundred thousand dollars.

(b) Each insurance company which issues professional liability insurance, as defined in subdivisions (1), (6), (7), (8) and (9) of subsection (b) of section 38a-393, shall on and after January 1, 1995, render to the Commissioner of Public Health a true record of the names and addresses, according to classification, of cancellations of and refusals to renew professional liability insurance policies and the reasons for such cancellation or refusal to renew said policies for the year ending on the thirty-first day of December next preceding.

(P.A. 94-71, S. 5; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-180, S. 69, 166.)

History: P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-180 required addresses to be included with the record of names in Subsec. (b), effective June 3, 1996.

Sec. 20-59. Disciplinary action by board; grounds. The board may take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17 for any of the following reasons: (1) Procurement of a license by fraud or material deception; (2) conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction, either within or without this state, of any crime in the practice of podiatry; (3) fraudulent or deceptive conduct in the course of professional services or activities; (4) illegal or incompetent or negligent conduct in the practice of podiatry; (5) habitual intemperance in the use of spirituous stimulants or addiction to the use of morphine, cocaine or other drugs having a similar effect; (6) aiding and abetting the practice of podiatry by an unlicensed person or a person whose license has been suspended or revoked; (7) mental illness or deficiency of the practitioner; (8) physical illness or loss of motor skill, including, but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process, of the practitioner; (9) undertaking or engaging in any medical practice beyond the privileges and rights accorded to the practitioner of podiatry by the provisions of this chapter; (10) failure to maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice as provided in subsection (a) of section 20-58a; (11) independently engaging in the performance of ankle surgery procedures in violation of section 20-54; (12) violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder; or (13) failure to provide information to the Department of Public Health required to complete a health care provider profile, as set forth in section 20-13j. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17. The clerk of any court in this state in which a person practicing podiatry has been convicted of any crime shall, upon such conviction, make written report, in duplicate, to the Department of Public Health of the name and residence of such person, the crime of which such person was convicted and the date of conviction; and said department shall forward one of such duplicate reports to the board.

(1949 Rev., S. 4559; P.A. 77-614, S. 379, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 28, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 21, 71; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-71, S. 11; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 07-252, S. 35; P.A. 08-109, S. 4; P.A. 18-168, S. 71.)

History: P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services and allowed disciplinary action for violations of chapter or related regulations, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-484 rephrased reference to actions of disciplinary nature, substituted “license” for “certificate of qualification”, deleted grounds re crimes of moral turpitude, felony or misdemeanor, immoral, dishonorable or unprofessional conduct and misleading, etc. advertising, added grounds re deception, physical illness and loss of motor skill, added provisions re required physical or mental examinations and re petitions to court for enforcement of orders or actions and deleted provision re revocation etc. of correlated licenses issued by health services department and reissuance of certificates; P.A. 81-471 made minor changes in wording; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-71 inserted new Subdiv. (10) concerning failure to maintain professional liability insurance or other indemnity against liability for professional malpractice and renumbered former Subdiv. (10) as (11); P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 07-252 added new Subdiv. (11) allowing board to take disciplinary action for independently engaging in the performance of ankle surgery procedures without a permit, in violation of Sec. 20-54, and redesignated existing Subdiv. (11) as Subdiv. (12); P.A. 08-109 made a technical change and added failure to provide information for health care provider profile to list of grounds for disciplinary action, effective January 1, 2010; P.A. 18-168 amended Subdiv. (11) by deleting “without a permit,”, effective July 1, 2018.

Cited. 207 C. 674; 208 C. 709.

Cited. 22 CA 181. Does not unlawfully delegate legislative power to a nonelective body. Id., 193.

Secs. 20-60 to 20-62. Jurisdiction of charges against practitioner; hearing; revocation or suspension of license. Appeal. Restoration of right to practice upon reversal of conviction. Sections 20-60 to 20-62, inclusive, are repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 4560–4562; 1971, P.A. 101; 870, S. 56; P.A. 76-436, S. 418, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 61, 125; 77-614, S. 323, 380, 381, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)

Sec. 20-63. Title “Doctor” not to be used. No person granted a certificate under this chapter shall display or use the title “Doctor” or its synonym without the designation “Podiatrist” or “Podiatric Medicine” and shall not mislead the public as to the limited professional scope of practice to treat human ailments.

(1949 Rev., S. 4565; P.A. 91-113, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 91-113 amended section to include “Podiatric Medicine” as designation to be used with “Doctor” and to change reference to professional qualifications to professional scope of practice.

Cited. 207 C. 674; 208 C. 709.

Sec. 20-64. Ownership or operation of office. Section 20-64 is repealed.

(1949, Rev., S. 4566; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)

Sec. 20-65. Penalty. Any person, except a licensed podiatrist, a licensed naturopathic physician or a physician or surgeon licensed under the provisions of chapter 370, who practices or attempts to practice podiatry, or any person who buys, sells or fraudulently obtains any diploma or license to practice podiatry, or any person who uses the title “podiatrist” or any word or title to induce the belief that such person is engaged in the practice of podiatry, without complying with the provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a class D felony. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or restrict the sale or fitting of corrective, orthopedic or arch-supporting shoes or commercial foot appliances by retail merchants and no such retail merchant shall be permitted to practice podiatry without being licensed for such practice. For the purposes of this section, each instance of patient contact or consultation that is in violation of any provision of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall not constitute a violation for the purposes of this section.

(1949 Rev., S. 4567; P.A. 84-526, S. 5; P.A. 99-102, S. 23; P.A. 13-258, S. 73.)

History: P.A. 84-526 amended section by changing penalty for violation of any provision of chapter to a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than five years, and added provisions that each instance of patient contact or consultation shall constitute a separate offense and failure to renew license in timely manner is not a violation for purposes of section; P.A. 99-102 deleted obsolete reference to osteopathic physician and made technical changes; P.A. 13-258 changed penalty from fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years for first conviction to a class D felony for each violation and made technical changes.

Cited. 146 C. 613; 207 C. 674.

Secs. 20-65a to 20-65e. Reserved for future use.