Court Opinion

ID: 4129709
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-18 00:55:27.091517+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:31:58.436705
License: Public Domain

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DAN MORALES
 ATTORNEY
      CENERAL                                       March 30.1998

   The Honorable Hugo Berlanga                              Opinion No. DM-472
   Chairman, Committee on Public Health
   Texas House of Representatives                           Re: Use of injectable substances by licensed
   P.O. Box 2910                                            chiropractors, and related questions (RQ-925)
   Austin, Texas 78768-2910

   Oliver R. Smith, Jr., D.C.
   President
   Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners
   333 Guadalupe, Tower III, Suite 82.5
   Austin, Texas 78701

   Dear Representative Berlanga and Dr. Smith:

           Both of you ask whether the use of injectable substances by a licensed chiropractor in the
   treatment of biomechanical conditions of the spine and musculoskeletal system of the body is within
   the scope of practice of chiropractic as defined in V.T.C.S. article 4512b. By “injectable substances”
   we understand you to mean substances that are injected into a person with a needle. We conclude
   that the use of a needle to inject substances or for any purpose other than the drawing of blood for
   diagnostic purposes or the performance of acupuncture as defined by the Medical Practice Act,
   V.T.C.S. article 4495b, section 6.02(l), is not within the scope of practice of a licensed Texas
   chiropractor.’ We also answer Dr. Smith’s questions regarding the use of certain drugs in the
   practice of chiropractic.

           A person may practice chiropractic in this state only if licensed to do so by the Texas Board
   of Chiropractic Examiners, and then only in compliance with the provisions of V.T.C.S. article
   4512b. See V.T.C.S. art. 4512b, $5 Sa(a), 14a. A person is regarded as practicing chiropractic
   within the meaning of article 4512b if the person:

                         (1) uses objective or subjective means to analyze, examine, or
                     evaluate the biomechanical condition of the spine and musculoskeletal
                     system of the human body;

            IWe assume for purposes of this opinion that a chiropractor is not otherwise licensed as a practitioner who is
   authorized to use needles in the scope of his or her practice.
The Honorable Hugo Berlanga - Page 2                   (DM-472)
Oliver R. Smith, Jr., DC.

                      (2) performs nonsurgical, nonincisive procedures, including but not
                  limited to adjustment and manipulation, in order to improve the
                  subluxation complex or the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system;
                  or

                      (3) holds himself out to the public as a chiropractor of the human
                  body or uses the term “chiropractor,” “chiropractic,” “doctor of
                  chiropractic,” “D.C.,” or any derivative of those terms in connection with
                  his name.

Id 9 1.

        Article 4512b expressly excludes certain acts from the practice of chiropractic. Id. 5 13a.
In 1995, the Seventy-fourth Legislature amended article 4512b to include “incisive or surgical
procedures” among the excluded acts. Id. $ 13a(a); see Act of May 29, 1995,74th Leg., RX, ch.
965, $ 18, 1995 Tex. Gen. Laws 4789,4803? For purposes of article 4512b, the phrase “incisive
or surgical procedure” includes but is not limited to “making an incision into any tissue, cavity, or
organ by any person or implement,” but does not include “the use of a needle for the purpose of
drawing blood for diagnostic testing.” V.T.C.S. art. 4512b, 5 13a(a), (b). Your questions require
us to determine whether use of a needle other than for the purpose of drawing blood is an incisive
or surgical procedure.

         We considered a closely related question in Attorney General Opinion DM-415. The issue
there was whether the practice of acupuncture’ is within the scope of practice of a licensed
chiropractor who is not also a licensed acupuncturist. Attorney General Opinion DM-415 (1996).
Central to our determination was a consideration of whether acupuncture, defined in part as “the
insertion of an acupuncture needle” into the human body, is an “incisive or surgical procedure” under

         ?rior to ammdmen~ section 13a provided only that chiropractors may not use “surgery, drugs that require a
prescription to be dispensed, x-ray therapy, or therapy that exposes the body to radioactive material.” Act of
May 29,1995,74th Leg., RS., ch. 965, # 18,1995 Tex. Gen. Laws 4789,4803.

        ‘When Attorney General Opinion DM415 was issued, V.T.C.S. article 4495b, which governs the practice of
acupuncture in Texas, defmed acupuncture as:

                   (A) the insertionof an acupunctureneedle and the applicationof moxibustionto
                 specificareasof the humanbody as a primarymode of therapyto treatand mitigatea
                 humancondition;and

                   (B) the admiaistmioaof thermalor electricaltreahnentsor the recommendationof
                 dietaryguidelines,energyflowexercise,or dietaryor herbalsupplementsin conjunction
                 with the treatmentdescribedby Paragraph(A) of this subdivision.

V.T.C.S.art. 44954 5 6.02.

                                                    P. 2666
The Honorable Hugo Berlanga - Page 3                     (DM-472)
Oliver R. Smith, Jr., D.C.

article 45 12b. Id. at 4. We reasoned that because the legislature expressly excluded from the range
of procedures that are incisive or surgical “the use of a needle for the purpose of drawing blood for
diagnostic testing,” the legislature considered the use of a needle for the purpose of drawing blood
to be an incisive or surgical procedure. Id. at 5. Seeing no distinction between the use of a needle
for drawing blood and the use of acupuncture needles, we concluded that acupuncture was not within
the scope of practice of chiropractic. 4 Likewise, seeing no distinction between the use of a needle
for drawing blood and the use of a needle for injections, we conclude that the use of needles to inject
substances into a person is excluded from the scope of practice of chiropractic.

         We find support for our conclusion in the legislative history of V.T.C.S. article 4512b. The
statute was amended in 1995 for the purpose of clarifying the “considerable confusion. . about the
scope of chiropractic.” Debate on S.B. 718 on the Floor of the Senate, 74th Leg., R.S.
(May 15, 1995) (statement of Senator Moncrief) (tape available from Senate Staff Services). The
use of needles by chiropractors was a central issue in the debate. Aa first introduced, Senate Bill 718
would have excluded from the scope of chiropractic “invasive or surgical procedures,” but did not
define the term invasive. S.B. 718, 74th Leg., R.S. (1995) (introduced version). The Senate
Committee on Health and Human Services amended the bill to exclude from the definition of
invasive certain procedures, namely, the “examination of the ear, nose, and throat or drawing of
blood for the purposes of diagnostic testing.“5 Id. (committee substitute). A witness testifying in
support of the bill remarked that because acupuncture is an “invasive” procedure, the bill would
prohibit acupuncture. Hearings on S.B. 718 Before the Senate Health and Human Serv. Comm.,
74th Leg., R.S. (Apr. 12, 1995) (testimony of Dee Ann Newbald, Texas Acupuncture Association)
(transcript available Tom Senate Staff Services).

        The bill was amended on the senate floor to change “invasive” to “incisive” and to allow
chiropractors to perform acupuncture and needle electromyogram (“EMG”),6 but only if certified by

         r‘his year, the Seventy-iif% Legislature amended the deftition of acupuncture in V.T.C.S. article 4495b to
define acupuncture, in part, as the “nonsurgical, nonincisive insertion of an acupunchwe needle.” Act of May 28,1997,
75th Leg., R.S., ch. 1170, 1997 Tex. Sess. Law Sew. 4418.4418 (to be codified as an amendment to V.T.C.S. art.
4495b, $?6.02(l) (effective Sept. 1, 1997)). Because acupuncture is now defmed in the acupunchue statute as a
“nonsurgical, nonincisive” procedure, it is not an “incisive or surgical procedure” excluded by the chiropractic statute
from the scope of the practice of chiropractic. Therefore, OUTconclusion in DM-415 that needle acupuncture is not
within the scope of the practice of chiropractichas been supersededby statute. See Attorney General Opinion DM-471
(1998). For all other uses of needles, however, the reasoning applied in DM-415 remains valid.

         ?t has been argued that the phrase excluding the use of needles for diagnostic testing was inserted not to make
an exception to the prohibition on the use of needles, but lo illustrate by example that the use of a needle is permitted.
We do not fmd support for this assertion in the legislative histmy of Senate Bill 718. To the contrary,comments during
debate on the bill illustrate that the members understood that the provision would exclude the use of needles for any
purpose other than those expressly allowed. See discussion infra note 7.

         6An electromyogram is “a record of the intrinsic electric activity in a skeletal muscle.” MOSEY’SMEDICAL,
NURSING,& ALLIEDHEALTHDICTIONARY            534 (4th ed. 1994). The data is obtained “by applying surface electmdes
or by insexting a needle electrode into the muscle and observing electrical activity with an oscilloscope and a loud
                                                                                                        (continued...)

                                                         p.   2667
The Honorable Hugo Berlanga - Page 4                  (DM-472)
Oliver R. Smith, Jr., D.C.

the Board of Chiropractic Examiners to perform such procedures. S.B. 718,74th Leg., R.S. (1995)
(as reprinted in S.J. of Tex., 74th Leg., R.S. 2059 (1995)). It has been argued that the term
“invasive” was changed to “incisive” so as not to include acupuncture and other uses of needles
within the definition of prohibited practices. However, even after the term “incisive” was substituted
in, the senate continued to except from its definition the use of needles for diagnostic testing,
acupuncture, and needle electromyogram. In our view, if the senate understood the term “incisive”
not to include the use of needles, it would not have excepted from that definition the use of needles
for certain purposes.

         The provisions of Senate Bill 718 were added by Representative Uher as an amendment to
Senate Bill 673 on the floor of the house, but without provisions expressly permitting acupuncture
and needle EMG. Representative Janek offered an additional amendment to prohibit manipulation
under anesthesia stating: “This amendment would take out any ability by the chiropractors to put
needles in people.” Debate on S.B. 673 on the Floor of the House, 74th Leg., RX (May 22, 1995)
(statement of Rep. Janek) (transcript available from Senate Staff Services).’ In our view, the
legislature intended the use of needles for any purpose other than the drawing of blood for diagnostic
purposes to be excluded from the scope of chiropractic.

        We note that in Attorney General Opinion DM-443 (1997), this office considered whether
the performance of needle EMG is within the scope of the practice of licensed physicians and
physical therapists. The State Board of Medical Examiners has the statutory authority to determine
what constitutes the practice of medicine, which is broadly defined. See V.T.C.S. art. 4495b,
$ 1,03(a)(12). The Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners is charged with the enforcement of
the Physical Therapy Act. See id. art. 4512e, 4 2G. Both boards, the medical board by resolution
and the physical therapy board by rule, determined that needle EMG is within the scope of the
practice of their respective professions. We concluded in DM-443 that the boards are entitled to
deference in their interpretations of the acta they are charged with administering and enforcing, and
their decisions that needle EMG is within the scope of their practices were reasonable ones.

       In this case, the scope of chiropractic is not so broadly defined. Both the language of
V.T.C.S. article 4512b and its legislative history indicate to us that the legislature intended to
exclude the use of needles from the scope of the practice of chiropractic except for certain purposes.
The Board of Chiropractic Examiners could not adopt a rule inconsistent with the statute.

        6(...contin”ed)
speaker.” Id.

          ‘During the debate, Representative Steve Ogden remarkedthat the “se of needles is not ordinarily viewed as
part of chiropractictreabnenf and that RepresentativeJanek’s mendment would enswe it remained true. He said: “It
would seem to me like without you ane”d”~“t, there would be a significant deparhre from the way chiropractic has
representeditself in my district,which is an altemative to tbe more conventional freatmentthat would involve needles,
drugs, anesthesia.” Debate on S.B. 673 on the Floor of the Senate, 74th Leg., RS. (May 22, 1995) (statement of Rep.
Ogden) (transcript available from Senate Staff Services).

                                                       p.   2668
 The Honorable Hugo Berlanga - Page 5                        @M-472)
 Oliver R. Smith, Jr., D.C.

         The chiropractic board’s second question concerns the use by chiropractors of “dangerous
 drugs.” V.T.C.S. article 4512b, section 13a(a)(2), excludes from the scope of the practice of
 chiropractic “the prescribing of controlled substances or dangerous drugs or any drug that requires
 a prescription.“* The Health and Safety Code defines a “dangerous drug” aa:

                  a device or a drug that is unsafe for self-medication and that is not
              included in Schedules I through V or Penalty Groups I through 4 of Chapter
              481 (Texas Controlled Substances Act). The term includes a device or a drug
              that bears or is required to bear the legend:

                   (A)    Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription; or

                   (B) Caution: federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of
              a licensed veterinarian.

Health & Safety Code $483.001(2); see Gov’t Code 5 311.01 l(b) (Code Construction Act) (“Words
and phrases that have acquired a technical or particular meaning, whether by legislative definition
or otherwise, shall be construed accordingly.“). Thus Texas law considers a substance to be a
“dangerous drug” when the federal Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) requires the substance
to bear a prescription legend. The board tells us that in some instances, although the FDA requires
a legend, some manufacturers do not include the legend in their packaging and promotion. We
understand you to ask, therefore, whether a chiropractor may be found to be in violation of V.T.C.S.
article 4512b if he or she prescribes a dangerous drug that does not carry the FDA-required legend.9
We conclude that a chiropractor may be found to be in violation in such a case.

        The statute defines a dangerous drug to include a drug that bears or is required to bear a
prescription legend. Health & Safety Code 5 483.001(2). Thus a drug that is required to bear a
prescription legend is a dangerous drug even if it does not actually bear the legend. We believe it
is the duty of a responsible health care provider to determine whether a drug not bearing a legend
is nevertheless required to bear a legend. Furthermore, the critical factor in determining whether a
drug is a dangerous drug is not whether it carries an FDA-required legend, but rather whether it is
‘unsafe for self-medication.” A drug that is “‘unsafe for self-medication” falls within the definition

          *A violation of article 4512b is punishable by the revocation or suspension of a chiropractor’s license, or the
probation or reprimand of a licensee. V.T.C.S. art. 45 12b, $ 14(a). The board may impose an administrative penalty
in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day the violation occurs or continues, and the violator is also liable to the
state for a civil penalty of $1,000 per day. Id. $5 14=(a), 19a(a), (b). The Health and Safety Code also provides for
criminal penalties for the possession or delivery of a dangerous drug. See Health and Safety Code ch. 483, subch. C.

          9you ask about a chiropractor’s“use” of dangerous drugs in his or her practice, while the statute speaks with
respect to the “prescrib[ingJ”of dangerous drugs. For purposes of this opinion, we assume that prescribing and using
are synonymous.

                                                        p.    2669
The Honorable Hugo Berlanga - Page 6                  (DM-472)
Oliver R. Smith, Jr., D.C.

of a dangerous drug even if it does not carry or is not required to carry a prescription legend.‘O Thus
a chiropractor may be found to be in violation of article 45 12b if he or she prescribes a drug that is
“unsafe for self-medication” whether or not the drug carries an FDA-required legend.

         The chiropractic board’s third question also relates to the use of dangerous drugs. The board
tells us that some manufacturers include legends on drugs even though the FDA does not require a
legend on the particular drug. The board asks if such a drug falls within the definition of a
dangerous drug. We believe that it does. Again, the Health and Safety Code includes within the
definition of “dangerous drug” a drug “that bears or is required to bear” a prescription legend.
Health & Safety Code 5 483.001(2) (emphasis added). The definition is not limited to drugs that are
required to bear the legend.

        The chiropractic board’s fourth question is: ‘In the State of Texas who is the source or body
that has the definitive authority of defining a controlled substance, dangerous drug or drug that
requires a prescription?” We find no single “definitive authority” on the question of classifying
drugs. Certainly, the Texas Legislature has the power to define what constitutes a controlled,
dangerous, or prescription drug, and it has done so. Health and Safety Code chapter 481 lists
specific drugs that are deemed to be controlled substances. Health & Safety Code $481.002(5). The
Commissioner of Health may, with the approval of the Texas Board of Health, add to, delete from,
or reschedule substances on the list. Id. 5 481.038. Health and Safety Code chapter 483 defines a
dangerous drug as a drug that is “unsafe for self-medication,” including drugs that bear or are
required by the FDA to bear a prescription legend. Thus, to some extent, the FDA determines what
is a dangerous drug under Texas law.

        Finally, the chiropractic board asks whether chiropractors may use injectable substances in
the scope of their practice that are not controlled substances, dangerous drugs, or substances
otherwise barred by the Chiropractic Act. Again, the use of a needle for any purpose other than the
drawing of blood for diagnostic purposes or the practice of acupuncture is not within the scope of
practice of a licensed Texas chiropractor. We conclude that the use of any injectable substance is
not within the scope of the practice of chiropractic.

        “‘Be statute provides that dangerous drugs “include” prescription drugs. In accordance with the Code
Const~cticm Act, we conshue “includes” as a term of enlargementand not of liitation or exclusive enumeration. See
Gov’t Code g 311.005(13).

                                                    p. 2670
The Honorable Hugo Berlanga - Page 7           (DM-472)
Oliver R. Smith, Jr., DC.

                                       SUMMARY

               The use of a needle to inject substances or for any purpose other than the
           drawing of blood for diagnostic testing or for the practice of acupuncture is
           not within the scope of practice of a licensed Texas chiropractor. A
           chiropractor may be found to be in violation of V.T.C.S. article 4512b,
           prohibiting the prescription by a chiropractor of dangerous drugs, if the
           chiropractor prescribes a drug that does not bear, but is required to bear, a
           legend stating that federal law prohibits dispensing the drug without a
           prescription.  A drug that bears a prescription legend falls within the
           definition of “dangerous drug” found in Health and Safety Code section
           483.001(2).

                                              DAN MORALES
                                              Attorney General of Texas

JORGE VEGA
First Assistant Attorney General

SARAH J. SHIRLEY
Chair, Opinion Committee

Prepared by Barbara Griftin
Assistant Attorney General

                                              p. 2671