Opinion No. (2002)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General THOMAS S. LAZAR Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE ROBERT D. HERRICK, CITY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, CITY OF MORENO VALLEY, has requested an opinion on the following questions: 1. Does colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, constitute "treatment" for purposes of the Medical Practice Act? 2. Would a registered nurse who performs colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, when not under the direction of a licensed physician but rather pursuant to a client's request as part of the nurse's private practice, be unlawfully engaged in the practice of medicine? CONCLUSIONS 1. Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, constitutes "treatment" for purposes of the Medical Practice Act. 2. A registered nurse who performs colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, when not under the direction of a licensed physician but rather pursuant to a client's request as part of the nurse's private practice, would be unlawfully engaged in the practice of medicine. ANALYSIS The two questions presented for resolution concern colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, performed by a registered nurse. Colon hydrotherapy…