§34-24-230. Definitions.

For purposes of this title, the following terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed by this section:

(1) PODIATRY. The diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the human foot, as described herein.

(2) PRACTICE OF PODIATRY. The diagnosis and medical or surgical or mechanical or manipulative or electrical treatment of any ailment of the human foot except such definition does not include the amputation of the foot or the administering of an anesthetic other than local.

(3) DIAGNOSIS. The process of ascertaining a disease or ailment by its general symptoms.

(4) MEDICAL TREATMENT. The application to or prescription for the foot of pads, adhesives, felt, plaster, or any medicinal agency for both external and internal use in connection with treatment of local ailments of the human foot, except such definition does not include the medical treatment of any systemic disease, but does allow treating the local manifestations of those systemic diseases in the foot.

(5) SURGICAL TREATMENT. The use of any cutting instrument to treat a disease, ailment, or condition of the human foot as defined herein, except that a podiatrist shall not be authorized to amputate the human foot, or perform any surgery on the human body at or above the ankle joint, or administer anesthetics other than local anesthetics.

(6) MECHANICAL TREATMENT. The application of any mechanical appliance made of steel, leather, felt, or any material to the foot or in the shoe for the purpose of treating any disease, deformity, or ailment.

(7) MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT. The use of the hand or machinery in the operation or working upon the foot and its articulations.

(8) ELECTRICAL TREATMENT. Any treatment by means and methods supplied by electric current.

(9) HUMAN FOOT. The terminal appendage of the lower extremity. It contains 26 bones and is divided into three parts - the forefoot, the midfoot, and the hindfoot. The forefoot consists of 14 phalanges and five metatarsals. The midfoot consists of five tarsal bones and their articulations. The hindfoot consists of two tarsal bones, the calcaneus and the talus. The foot is defined as including all 26 complete boney structures below the ankle joint, which ankle joint consists of the distal tibia and fibula and their articulations with the talus. The distal aspect of the tibia and fibula, the achilles tendon, and all structures above the dome of the talus reside within the leg.

(Acts 1967, No. 741, p. 1586, §1; Acts 1971, No. 2427, p. 3870, §1; Acts 1975, No. 1199, p. 2376, §1; Acts 1982, No. 82-437, p. 687, §1; Acts 1983, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 83-131, p. 137, §1.)