An Act To Clarify the Use of "M.D." To Represent Achievement of a Graduate Degree by an Individual Not Licensed To Practice Medicine in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0834
Committee Amendment CA_A_H350 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 568, L.D. 834, Bill, "An Act To 
Clarify the Use of "M.D." To Represent Achievement of a Graduate Degree by an 
Individual Not Licensed To Practice Medicine in Maine" 
Amend the bill in section 1 by striking out all ofthe indented paragraph (page 1, lines 
to 18 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'Whoever, not being duly licensed by the board, practices medicine or surgery or a 
branch of medicine or surgery, or purports to practice medicine or surgery or a branch of 
medicine or surgery in a way cited in this section, or who uses the title "Doctor" or the 
letters "Dr." or the letters "M.D." in connection with that individual's name, contrary to 
this section, commits a Class E crime. The prefixing of the title "Dostor" or the letters 
"Dr." or the appending of the letters "M.D." by an individual to that individual's name or 
the use of the title of dostor or physisian in any 'Nay by an individual not lisensed as 
dessribed is prima fasie evidense that that individual is purporting to prastise medisine or 
surgery sontrary to this sestion, exsept that nothing Nothing contained in this section 
prevents an individual who has received the doctor's degree from a reputable college or 
university, other than the degree of "Doctor of Medicine" from prefixing the letters "Dr." 
to that individual's name, if that individual is not engaged, and does not engage, in the 
practice of medicine or surgery or the treatment of a disease or human ailment. Nothing 
contained in this section prevents an individual who has received the degree "Doctor of 
Medicine" from a reputable college or university but who is not engaged in the practice of 
medicine or surgery or the treatment of a disease or human ailment, from prefixing the 
letters "Dr." or appending the letters "M.D." to that individual's name, as long as that 
individual's license to practice has never been revoked by the board. Nothing in this 
chapter may be construed as to affect or prevent the practice of the religious tenets of a 
church in the ministration to the sick or suffering by mental or spiritual means. I 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the majority report of the committee. It allows a person who has 
received the doctor's degree from a reputable college or university to append the letters 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A' to H.P. 568, L.D. 834 
"M.D." to that person's name, if that person is not engaged in the practice of medicine or 
surgery, as long as that person's license to practice has never been revoked by the Board 
of Licensure in Medicine. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/05/15 
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LD 834 
LR 1326(02) 
An Act To Clarify the Use of "M.D." To Represent Achievement of a Graduate Degree by an 
Individual Not Licensed To Practice Medicine in Maine 
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Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A, L /1-35ZJ ) 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor savings - General Fund 
Minor revenue decrease - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Eliminates Class E crimes. 
A reduction in fines will decrease General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
LR1326(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1