Part heading added by revisor.

§453-1 Practice of medicine defined. For the purposes of this chapter the practice of medicine includes the use of drugs and medicines, water, electricity, hypnotism, or any means or method, or any agent, either tangible or intangible, for the treatment of disease in the human subject; provided that when a duly licensed physician pronounces a person affected with any disease hopeless and beyond recovery and gives a written certificate to that effect to the person affected or the person's attendant nothing herein shall forbid any person from giving or furnishing any remedial agent or measure when so requested by or on behalf of the affected person.

This section shall not amend or repeal the law respecting the treatment of those affected with Hansen's disease. [L 1896, c 60, §2; am L 1909, c 133, §1; RL 1925, §1023; RL 1935, §1201; RL 1945, §2502; am L 1949, c 53, §29 and c 63, §1; RL 1955, §64-1; am L 1965, c 218, §1; HRS §453-1; am L 1969, c 152, §1; am L 1981, c 185, §1; am L 1983, c 124, §16; gen ch 1985]

Determination of death, see §327C-1.

Medical acupuncture is not sufficiently distinct from traditional acupuncture so as to fall outside the scope of the practice of acupuncture. Physicians licensed by board of medical examiners cannot practice medical acupuncture absent licensure by board of acupuncture. Att. Gen. Op. 03-5.

Should The Right To Die Be Protected? Physician Assisted Suicide And Its Potential Effect On Hawai`i. 19 UH L. Rev. 783.

"Practice" defined. 21 H. 465.

Decision of private hospitals concerning granting of staff privileges to licensed doctors is subject to judicial review if hospital has received government funds. 53 H. 475, 497 P.2d 564.