CHAPTER 15.  PHYSICIANS, SURGEONS, AND MIDWIVES

PART I.  MEDICINE, SURGERY, MIDWIFERY

§1261.  Declaration of purpose

Recognizing that the practice of medicine, surgery, and midwifery is a privilege granted by legislative authority and is not a natural right of individuals, the state of Louisiana deems it necessary as a matter of policy in the interests of public health, safety, and welfare to provide laws and provisions covering the granting of that privilege and its subsequent use, control, and regulation to the end that the public shall be properly protected against unprofessional, improper, unauthorized, and unqualified practice of medicine and from unprofessional conduct of persons licensed to practice medicine, surgery, and midwifery.

Acts 1975, No. 350, §1; Acts 1985, No. 302, §2; Acts 2001, No. 17, §1, eff. May 17, 2001.