Dr. H. G. Towle,Fresidwt Texas Stat. Board of Examinersin Optometry Snyder,Texas
Dear Sirs opinionNo. O-5064 Ro: Rhether person, who is not a lloensedphyoiolw, who makes physloalexaminationof persons for insur8nos0ompUryviolates medical praotloenot.
This ls with reference to your recent letterreadingin part as follows*
'Recentlythe questionhas come before our Bcerd as to whether or not a licensedoptometristis qualifiedor allowedto make examtinations of the ayes, tako blood pressureof a person being examined, and mat- ters of examinationgenerallyunder the OptomOq.Aot, namely, Chapter 10, Article 4552, RevisedCivil Statutesof Texan, and also whether or not the fact that ho t&O6 the blood pressureof the person he is' examiningend examinesthe eyes, not for tho~purposeof fittingglas- se8 but for the purposeof making a reportto an lnsuranoecbmpany, would In my way be in violationof the mediaalwaotioo Act, Chapter 6, Artiole 4610, aud also the penal provisionsof the statuteregu- latingthe praotioeof optometrymd regulatingthe practioeof med- icine. "In the partioularoa8e at hand, a lioensedoptometristhas been offeredemploymentto make examinationsof the ayes for an lnsuranoa oommy. In their examinationthay requirethat the blood pressure b, taken in order to completesaid examination."
The questionpresented,statedbriefly,is whether one, not a llosnsodphysician,may make physicaloxamlnationsof personsand receivepay thorofor,withouttiolatlngany pro+isionof the statutes regulatingthe praoriooof medicineor optometry.
No detailedanalysisor disoussionof the variou.?statutesrsg- ulatingand relatingto the practiceof optometryand medicineIs neoessaryto show that they do not denouncenor prohibitone, not a licensedoptometristor physician,from making physloalexaminations of personsand receivingpey for suoh service.
Artiols 741 of tho Penal Code of Texae provider: Dr. H. G. Towle, page 2 9015054)
"Any person shall be rogardodas praotioingmedioinowithin the mean- of this chapter:
"1. Who shall publlolyprofessto be a physioirnor surgeonand shall' treat or offor to treat arpJdimeaseor disorder,mental or physical, or any physlclaldeformityor injury,by any systemor method, or to offoot curesthereof.
"2. Rho shU.1 treat or offer to treat any disoaeeor disorder,mental or physical,or any physioaldeformityor Injury,by a* aystomor method, or to affect owes thereofand ohargstherofor,directlyor in- directly,money or other compensation."
In prosecutionsfor uulamfullypraotioingmedicine,the above quoted articleis oontrolling. There Is nothing in such artiole,nor in any other statuteregulatingthe practiceof medialnoor optometryin Texrs, prohlbitlngone, not a liaensodphysioianor optometrist,fran making an examinatonof the eyes, taldngthe blood pressure,or making physicalexaminationsgenerallyof other persons,and receivingpay for such servioo.
YOU are thereforeadvisedthat a registerodoptometristmay accept employmentto make oxaminationrof pertonm'eyer and to take the blood pressureof suoh personsand to make phyrioilexaminatioiwgoner- ally withoutviolatingany provisltinof the statutesregulatingtho praotioeof optometryand modiolno.
Yours very truly
ATTORNEXGEliXRAL OF TEXAS
BY /a/ E.G. Phur . .
E.'Gi Ph& Amlrtmt
APPROVEDWE 2,1943 /8/ Grover SellOI'E opinioncommittee FIRST ASSISTANT ByBllB A~ORN?XGEKERAL Chaiman