In Maryland, the practice of medicine was first
regulated in 1888 (Chapter 429, Acts of 1888).
The State Board of Health then licensed all physi-
cians. In 1892, two Boards of Medical Examiners
carried on this function. One represented the
Medical and Chirurgical Faculty and the other
the State Homeopathic Society (Chapter 296, Acts
of 1892). The Legislature of 1957 abolished the
Homeopathic Board. The practice of medicine in
Maryland is now regulated solely by the State
Board of Medical Examiners.

The Board tests and licenses physicians for the
practice of medicine in the State. For certain
causes, the Board may revoke the license of any
physician. Candidates for licenses must be gradu-
ates of medical schools approved by the American
Medical Association and the Association of
American Medical Colleges or of foreign medical
schools that offer an equivalent education. All
graduates of foreign medical schools who apply
must pass the examination given by the Educa-
tional Council for Foreign Medical Graduates.
The Board determines qualifications for practice
by the FLEX examination (Federal Licensing Ex-
amination), endorsement of licenses obtained in a
reciprocating state, or endorsement of a certificate
of the National Board of Medical Examiners.
FLEX examinations are held in June and Decem-
ber of each year.

The Board also regulates the practice of medi-
cine without a license by physicians' assistants,
psychiatrists' assistants, cardiac rescue techni-
cians, aviation trauma technicians, unlicensed
medical practitioners, acupuncturists, medical ra-
diation technologists, and nuclear medical tech-
nologists in approved medical training programs.

Since 1967 the Board has licensed certain osteo-
paths on the basis of endorsement, depending up-
on qualifications (Code Health Occupations Arti-
cle, sec. 14-310).

Composed of ten members, the Board includes
eight physicians in active practice elected from
and by the members of the Medical and Chirurgi-
cal Faculty (State Medical Society). Two of these
members are elected each year to serve four-year
terms. The two remaining members are consum-
ers who are not trained in medicine and have no
financial interests in a related field. Consumer
members are appointed by the Governor on rec-
ommendation of the Secretary of the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene with the advice
and consent of the Senate.

Authorization for the Board continues until Ju-
ly 1, 1993 (Code Health Occupations Article,
sees. 14-101 through 14-802).

Acupuncture Advisory Council

Chairperson: Robert M. Duggan

Ralph M. Coan, M.D.; Dianne M. Connelly,
Ph.D.; Robert M. Duggan; Warren M. Ross,
M.D.; Grace Wong, M.D. Terms expire 1988.

Established in 1982, the Acupuncture Advisory
Council advises the State Board of Medical Exam-
iners on the adoption of rules and regulations con-
cerning the licensing of acupuncturists and the
performance of acupuncture in the State (Chapter
644, Acts of 1982).

The Council consists of five members appointed
by the Governor. Of these, two are licensed physi-
cians and three are acupuncturists who are not li-
censed physicians (Code Health Occupations Arti-
cle, sec. 14-605).

Physician Assistant Advisory Committee

Chairperson: Philip J. Fen-is, M.D.

Donald J. Fuller; Richard A. Rowe; Robert
Solomon; Thomas E. Winter; J. B. Zachary,
M.D.; David J. Zajano, M.D. Terms expire 1987.

The Pliysician Assistant Advisory Cuinuiitlcc
was created within the State Board of Medical
Examiners in 1986 (Chapter 759, Acts of 1986).
The Committee recommends to the Board regula-
tions concerning the certification of physician as-
sistants. The Committee also recommends to the
Board the approval, modification, or disapproval
of an application for certification. The Committee
may report to the Board any alleged unauthorized
practice of a physician assistant, or any conduct
of a supervising physician or a physician assistant
that may be cause for disciplinary action.

To perform delegated medical acts, a physician
assistant must obtain an approved job description
from the State Board of Medical Examiners. The
Committee evaluates the qualifications of the phy-
sician assistant for delegated medical acts to be
performed under that job description. After a per-
sonal interview with the physician assistant and
supervising physician, the Committee recom-
mends that the Board approve, modify, or reject
the application for a job description. The Board,
on review of the Committee's recommendation,
may approve, modify, or deny a request for certifi-
cation.