Opinion No. 34-806
September 14, 1934
TO: Doctor H. E. Donovan, D.O., Donovan Hospital, Raton, New Mexico.
{*155} This is in reply to your letter of September 12, 1934 requesting an opinion from this office in regard to the status of an osteopath in this state.
Under Section 1 of Chapter 117, Laws of 1933, osteopathy is defined as "that system or school of medicine which is taught and practiced in the standard colleges of osteopathy and surgery as hereinafter set forth." Under Section 8 of said chapter are listed the subjects in which applicants for a license to practice osteopathy must be examined. These subjects are substantially the same as those in which applicants for a license to practice medicine are required to be examined. See Section 110-105, 1929 Code. For example, in both cases applicants are required to be examined in anatomy, chemistry, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, therapeutics, surgery, gynecology, and obstetrics. In Section 6 of Chapter 117, Laws of 1934 the term "osteopathic physician and surgeon" is used.
From all of the above it would, in my opinion, follow that an osteopath is a physician and surgeon who has been trained in that "system or school of medicine which is taught and practiced in the standard colleges of osteopathy and surgery."
By: QUINCY D. ADAMS,
Asst. Attorney General