Idaho Code
Idaho Code § 54-1803 (2026)
Definitions.
✓ current as of May 2026
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Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Practice of medicine" means:
(a) The investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction, or prevention of or prescription for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental, by any means or instrumentality that involves the application of principles or techniques of medical science; or
(b) Offering, undertaking, or holding oneself out as able to do any of the acts described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(2) "Board" means the state board of medicine.
(3) "Physician" means any person who holds a license to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or osteopathic medicine, provided that others authorized by law to practice any of the healing arts shall not be considered physicians for the purposes of this chapter.
(4) "Supervising physician" means a physician who is responsible for the direction and supervision of the activities of and patient services provided by licensed or unlicensed medical personnel.
(5) "License to practice medicine" means a license issued by the board to a person who has graduated from an acceptable school of medicine and who has fulfilled the licensing requirements of this chapter.
(6) "License to practice osteopathic medicine" means a license issued by the board to a person who either graduated from an acceptable osteopathic school of medicine subsequent to January 1, 1963, or who has been licensed by endorsement of a license to practice osteopathic medicine issued by another state and who has fulfilled the licensing requirements of this chapter.
(7) "Acceptable school of medicine" means any school of medicine or school of osteopathic medicine that meets the standards or requirements of a national medical school accrediting organization acceptable to the board.
(8) "Intern" or "resident" means any person who has completed a course of study at an acceptable school of medicine and who is enrolled in a postgraduate medical training program.
(9) "Physician assistant" means any person who is a graduate of an acceptable physician assistant training program, who is qualified by specialized education, training, and experience, and who has been licensed by the board to render patient services.
(10) "Graduate physician assistant" means a person who is a graduate of an approved program for the education and training of physician assistants and who meets all of the requirements in this chapter for licensure, but who:
(a) Has not yet taken and passed the certification examination but has been authorized by the board to render patient services under the direction of a supervising physician for a period of six (6) months; or
(b) Has passed the certification examination but who has not yet obtained a college baccalaureate degree and who has been authorized by the board to render patient services under the direction of a supervising physician for a period of not more than five (5) years.
(11) "International medical program" means any medical school, residency program, medical internship program, or entity that provides physicians with a medical education or training outside of the United States or Canada that is substantially similar to the medical education or training required to practice as a physician in Idaho and has been evaluated and certified by the educational commission for foreign medical graduates.
(12) "International physician" means any individual who:
(a) Was not a legal resident of the United States or Canada when they attended and matriculated from an international medical program;
(b) Has been granted a medical doctorate or substantially similar degree by an international medical program of good standing;
(c) Has completed a residency or post-graduate medical training;
(d) Has practiced medicine as a physician in good standing with the regulatory institution in such individual’s home country for at least three (3) years after the completion of post-graduate medical training or completed at least five hundred (500) hours of clinical experience under direct physician supervision in a clinical setting in the United States;
(e) Has practiced medicine within the last five (5) years or has a waiver from the board; and
(f) Possesses basic fluency in the English language as demonstrated by a passing score on the occupational English test for medicine or other equivalent exam approved by the board.
(13) "Sponsoring entity" means an entity, corporation, or organization, whether for profit or nonprofit, that furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care procedures or service delivery in the normal course of business, and includes but is not limited to health systems, hospitals, freestanding emergency departments, independent physician practices, primary care clinics, and urgent care clinics.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1977–2023 · leading case: Hirst v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins., 683 P.2d 440 (Idaho Ct. App. 1984).
Hirst v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins., 683 P.2d 440 (Idaho Ct. App. 1984). “NOTES [1] Idaho Code § 54-1803 (1) defines "practice of medicine" as follows: "(a) To investigate, diagnose, treat, correct.”
State v. Kellogg, 636 P.2d 750 (Idaho 1981). “§ 54-1802, the definitions section of the Physicians and Surgeons Act, did not contain a separate definition of physician, [6] but I.C. § 54-1803 did prohibit "practicing medicine," as that term was defined in I.”
State v. Kellogg, 568 P.2d 514 (Idaho 1977). “In excepting physicians, we conclude that the legislature intended only to mean those persons licensed to practice medicine in the State pursuant to I.C. § 54-1803. There is no indication in the record that Kellogg is so licensed, and his claimed status as a naturopath does not…”
O'Loughlin v. Circle a Constr., 739 P.2d 347 (Idaho 1987). “I.C. § 54-1803(a) and (b) (1979). The definitional section of the psychologist licensing statute defines the "practice of psychology" as follows: (f) "Practice of psychology" means the application of established principles of learning, motivation, perception, thinking, and…”
State v. Maxfield, 564 P.2d 968 (Idaho 1977). “In a “Motion to Dismiss or Quash Information and Complaint,” Maxfield sought to have the applicable statute, I.C. § 54-1803, declared unconstitutionally vague.”
Pines, D.O. v. State Bd. of Med., 351 P.3d 1203 (Idaho 2015). “In making this finding, the Board turned to the definition of “practice of *756 medicine” in Idaho Code section 54-1803, which provides: (1) The “practice of medicine” means: (a) To investigate, diagnose, treat, correct or prescribe for any human disease, ailment, injury,…”
State v. Horsley, 792 P.2d 945 (Idaho 1990). “I.C. § 54-1803(1) (1988). The report at issue here did not purport to relate to the investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction or prescription for any disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental.”
Maxfield v. State, 700 P.2d 115 (Idaho Ct. App. 1985). “In his brief on appeal, however, Maxfield appends a challenge to the constitutionality of I.”
Noak v. Idaho Dep't of Corr., 271 P.3d 703 (Idaho 2012). “” I.C. § 54-1803(9). And, the protection from liability extends to “reports or acts .”
Rich v. Hepworth Holzer (Idaho 2023). “271 with I.C. § 54-1803(1) (defining “practice of medicine” as “[t]he investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction, or prevention of or prescription for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental, by any means or…”
Rich v. Hepworth Holzer (Idaho 2023). “271 with I.C. § 54-1803(1) (defining “practice of medicine” as “[t]he investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction, or prevention of or prescription for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental, by any means or…”
John F. Noak, M.D. v. Dept of Corr. & Prison Health Servs., Inc. (Idaho 2012). “One of the express purposes of the Medical Practice Act, of which I.C. § 54-1818 is a part, 2 “is to assure the public health, safety and welfare in the state by the licensure and regulation of physicians.”
— Idaho Code § 54-1803(1) — 4 cases
State v. Horsley, 792 P.2d 945 (Idaho 1990). “I.C. § 54-1803(1) (1988). The report at issue here did not purport to relate to the investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction or prescription for any disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental.”
Pines, D.O. v. State Bd. of Med., 351 P.3d 1203 (Idaho 2015). “In making this finding, the Board turned to the definition of “practice of *756 medicine” in Idaho Code section 54-1803, which provides: (1) The “practice of medicine” means: (a) To investigate, diagnose, treat, correct or prescribe for any human disease, ailment, injury,…”
Rich v. Hepworth Holzer (Idaho 2023). “271 with I.C. § 54-1803(1) (defining “practice of medicine” as “[t]he investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction, or prevention of or prescription for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental, by any means or…”
Rich v. Hepworth Holzer (Idaho 2023). “271 with I.C. § 54-1803(1) (defining “practice of medicine” as “[t]he investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction, or prevention of or prescription for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental, by any means or…”
— Idaho Code § 54-1803(3) — 1 case
State v. Kellogg, 636 P.2d 750 (Idaho 1981). “§ 54-1802, the definitions section of the Physicians and Surgeons Act, did not contain a separate definition of physician, [6] but I.C. § 54-1803 did prohibit "practicing medicine," as that term was defined in I.”
— Idaho Code § 54-1803(5) — 2 cases
Rich v. Hepworth Holzer (Idaho 2023). “271 with I.C. § 54-1803(1) (defining “practice of medicine” as “[t]he investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction, or prevention of or prescription for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental, by any means or…”
Rich v. Hepworth Holzer (Idaho 2023). “271 with I.C. § 54-1803(1) (defining “practice of medicine” as “[t]he investigation, diagnosis, treatment, correction, or prevention of or prescription for any human disease, ailment, injury, infirmity, deformity or other condition, physical or mental, by any means or…”
— Idaho Code § 54-1803(9) — 2 cases
Noak v. Idaho Dep't of Corr., 271 P.3d 703 (Idaho 2012). “” I.C. § 54-1803(9). And, the protection from liability extends to “reports or acts .”
John F. Noak, M.D. v. Dept of Corr. & Prison Health Servs., Inc. (Idaho 2012). “One of the express purposes of the Medical Practice Act, of which I.C. § 54-1818 is a part, 2 “is to assure the public health, safety and welfare in the state by the licensure and regulation of physicians.”
— Idaho Code § 54-1803(a) — 1 case
O'Loughlin v. Circle a Constr., 739 P.2d 347 (Idaho 1987). “I.C. § 54-1803(a) and (b) (1979). The definitional section of the psychologist licensing statute defines the "practice of psychology" as follows: (f) "Practice of psychology" means the application of established principles of learning, motivation, perception, thinking, and…”
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