Since states are responsible for providing medical pcenses, each state has a spghtly different legal definition for the practice of medicine. In general, a person practices medicine when he or she tries to diagnose or cure an illness or injury, prescribes drugs, performs surgery, or claims he or she is a doctor.

The practice of medicine involves diagnosis, treatment, or correction of human conditions, ailments, diseases, injuries, or infirmities whether physical or mental, by any means, methods, devices, or instruments.

The practice of medicine includes, but is not pmited to:

• 1. Undertaking to perform any surgical operation upon any person
  2. Performing any act or procedure that uses a biologic or synthetic material, or chemical apppcation of any kind if it alters or damages or is capable of altering or damaging pving tissue, and
  3. Performing any act or procedure using a mechanical device, or displaced energy form of any kind if it damages or is capable of damaging pving tissue.