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Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists associations reach scope of practice settlement

An out-of-court settlement has been reached between the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), which acknowledges an overlapping scope of practice between the two professions. A joint statement issued by the parties  clarifies that neither manual therapy, nor the provision of physical medicine and rehabilitation services is the exclusive province of Physical Therapists.

Joint statement.

Court upholds New Jersey ban on state troopers practicing law

U.S. District Court Judge Freda Wolfson upheld a ban on the practice of law by New Jersey state troopers, given the potential for conflict of interest between private practice and troopers' professional obligations. The suit had been brought by 21 troopers who engaged in noncriminal law practice, and sought to overturn an ethics code adopted in May 2007.

More.

Colorado: doctor held responsible for nurse's mistake

A Colorado Court of Appeals has ruled that a surgeon is liable for malpractice after a sponge was left in a patient by the assisting nurse. Read more.

California: "Good Samaritans" must perform medical acts

The California Supreme Court has held that the state's Good Samaritan law applies only to medical assistance. A woman who removed an injured friend from a car wreck, but did not provide medical treatment, is not judgment proof. Read the opinion.

Texas: medical board v. chiropractic examiners board

An appeals court has ruled that the Texas Medical Board and Texas Medical Association have the right to sue the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners over its rule that allows spinal manipulation under anesthesia. The case centers on whether this practice constitutes a surgical procedure, which is not permitted under the chiropractic scope of practice. Read more.

New Brunswick: judge orders open disciplinary hearings for lawyers

A Court of Queen's Bench judge has given the Law Society of New Brunswick and the provincial government until June 30 to pass new legislation providing for open disciplinary hearings. Brunswick News had asked the court to consider whether a society rule allowing private disciplinary hearings was constitutional. Read more.

California: court says no patient discrimination

The state's supreme court says doctors may refrain from providing medical procedures that conflict with their belief systems, but they may not provide a procedure to some patient categories and not to others. Read more.

Missouri: supreme court upholds midwifery law

A midwifery law that was passed inadvertently last year when obscure language was slipped into a bill gets to stand according the the state's supreme court. A circuit court had thrown out the language on constitutional grounds. Read more.

New Jersey: court says chiropractors may do extraspinal adjustments

The state supreme court has ruled that chiropractors may adjust limbs when treating problems related to the spine. This finding overturns an appellate court decision and restores the New Jersey State Board of Chiropractic Examiners' regulation permitting such adjustments. Read more. See also The Star Ledger.

Arizona: expert witness law unconstitutional

An Arizona appellate court says the law setting qualifications for expert witnesses in medical malpractice cases violates the doctrine of separation between the branches of government and is unconstitutional. Read more.