CHAPTER 375*
PODIATRY

"Podiatric medicine" means the diagnosis and treatment, including medical and surgical treatment, of ailments of the foot and the anatomical structures of the foot and the administration and prescription of drugs incidental thereto. It shall include treatment of local manifestations of systemic diseases as they appear on the foot. 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.)
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.
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, 296. "Ankle" not included in definition of "foot". 208 C. 709—712, 715, 716, 718—720, 722—724, 727.
Cited. 46 CA 391.

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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 free standing 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.

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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 title 2c re termination under "Sunset Law".
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 Public Health Department.
Cited. 207 C. 674, 675, 679.
Cited. 22 CA 181, 185, 187.

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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.)

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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 he has presented to the department satisfactory evidence that he has had a high school education or its equivalent, has received a diploma or other certificate of graduation from an accredited school or college of chiropody or podiatry approved by the Board of Examiners in Podiatry with the consent of the Commissioner of Public Health nor shall any person so practice until he 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 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 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 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 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 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.
(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.)
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.
See Sec. 19a-88 re annual renewal of licenses.
Sec. 20-51 et seq. cited. 207 C. 674, 679.

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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 four hundred fifty 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.)
History: 1959 act increased examination fee from thirty-five to fifty dollars; 1971 act raised examination fees to one hundred dollars; 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 one hundred dollars to three hundred dollars; P.A. 91-113 replaced reference to chiropodical orthopedics to podiatric orthopedics; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised examination fee from three hundred to four hundred fifty dollars; 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.
Sec. 20-51 et seq. cited. 207 C. 674, 679.

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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 ninety days.
Sec. 20-51 et seq. cited. 207 C. 674, 679.

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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 four hundred fifty 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.)
History: 1959 act increased application fee from seventy-five dollars; 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 five-year practice requirement; 1971 act increased application fee from one hundred to one hundred fifty dollars; 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 five 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 one hundred fifty dollars to four hundred fifty dollars; 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 ten 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.
Sec. 20-51 et seq. cited. 207 C. 674, 679.

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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.)

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(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.

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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; or (11) violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder. 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.)
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.
Sec. 20-51 et seq. cited. 207 C. 674, 675, 679. Cited. Id. Cited. 208 C. 709, 713.
Does not unlawfully delegate legislative power to a nonelective body. 22 CA 193—195, 198, 199.
Subdiv. (4):
Cited. 207 C. 674, 676.
Cited. 22 CA 181—183, 191.
Subdiv. (9):
Cited. 208 C. 709, 724.

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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.)

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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.
Sec. 20-51 et seq. cited. 207 C. 674, 679. Cited. 208 C. 709, 723.

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Section 20-64 is repealed.
(1949, Rev., S. 4566; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)

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Any person, except a licensed podiatrist, a licensed natureopathic physician or a physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery, 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, upon the first conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than five years or be both fined and imprisoned, except that nothing herein contained 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.)
History: P.A. 84-526 amended section by changing penalty for violation of any provision of chapter to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars 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.
Cited. 146 C. 613. Sec. 20-51 et seq. cited. 207 C. 674, 679.

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Reserved for future use.

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