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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 5Art. 3§ 2052 Unauthorized Medical Practice Penalty

§ 2052 Unauthorized Medical Practice Penalty

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 2052 Unauthorized Medical Practice Penalty

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't pretend to be a doctor or treat people if you're not a real doctor with a valid license.
  • •If you help someone else pretend to be a doctor, you can also get in trouble.
  • •Breaking this rule can lead to big fines (up to $10,000) or even jail time.

Example

Your neighbor starts calling themselves a doctor and gives people medicine for their sickness, but they never went to medical school.

This is against the law because they don’t have a real doctor’s license. They could get fined or go to jail for pretending to be a doctor and treating sick people.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 2052 Unauthorized Medical Practice Penalty

(a) Notwithstanding Section 146, any person who practices or attempts to practice, or who advertises or holds himself or herself out as practicing, any system or mode of treating the sick or afflicted in this state, or who diagnoses, treats, operates for, or prescribes for any ailment, blemish, deformity, disease, disfigurement, disorder, injury, or other physical or mental condition of any person, without having at the time of so doing a valid, unrevoked, or unsuspended certificate as provided in this chapter or without being authorized to perform the act pursuant to a certificate obtained in accordance with some other provision of law is guilty of a public offense, punishable by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both the fine and either imprisonment. (b) Any person who conspires with or aids or abets another to commit any act described in subdivision (a) is guilty of a public offense, subject to the punishment described in that subdivision. (c) The remedy provided in this section shall not preclude any other remedy provided by law. (Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 11. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

practices or attempts to practicevalid, unrevoked, or unsuspended certificatepublic offenseconspires with or aids or abets

Related Statutes

  • § 19845 Gambling Premises Removal Authority
  • § 19840 Commission Regulation Authority
  • § 19841 Gambling License Application Rules
  • § 19842 Game Regulation Limits
  • § 19843 Gaming Table Wager Rules

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 2052.
View Official Source