Terms Used In Arizona Laws > Title 32 > Chapter 13 > Article 3 - Regulation

• Action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Active license: means a valid and existing license to practice medicine. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Advisory letter: means a nondisciplinary letter to notify a licensee that either:

  (a) While there is insufficient evidence to support disciplinary action, the board believes that continuation of the activities that led to the investigation may result in further board action against the licensee. See Arizona Laws 32-1401

• Allegation: something that someone says happened.
• Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
• Board: means the Arizona medical board. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
• Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
• Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
• Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
• Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
• Direct supervision: means that a physician, physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 25 of this title or nurse practitioner certified pursuant to chapter 15 of this title is within the same room or office suite as the medical assistant in order to be available for consultation regarding those tasks the medical assistant performs pursuant to section 32-1456. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
• Doctor of medicine: means a natural person holding a license, registration or permit to practice medicine pursuant to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
• Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
• Health care institution: means any facility as defined in section 36-401, any person authorized to transact disability insurance, as defined in Title 20, Chapter 6, Article 4 or 5, any person who is issued a certificate of authority pursuant to Title 20, Chapter 4, Article 9 or any other partnership, association or corporation that provides health care to consumers. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• including: means not limited to and is not a term of exclusion. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
• Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
• Letter of reprimand: means a disciplinary letter that is issued by the board and that informs the physician that the physician's conduct violates state or federal law and may require the board to monitor the physician. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Limit: means taking a nondisciplinary action that alters the physician's practice or professional activities if the board determines that there is evidence that the physician is or may be mentally or physically unable to safely engage in the practice of medicine. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Medical assistant: means an unlicensed person who meets the requirements of section 32-1456, has completed an education program approved by the board, assists in a medical practice under the supervision of a doctor of medicine, physician assistant or nurse practitioner and performs delegated procedures commensurate with the medical assistant's education and training but does not diagnose, interpret, design or modify established treatment programs or perform any functions that would violate any statute applicable to the practice of medicine. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Medically incompetent: means a person who the board determines is incompetent based on a variety of factors, including:

  (a) A lack of sufficient medical knowledge or skills, or both, to a degree likely to endanger the health of patients. See Arizona Laws 32-1401

• Medicine: means allopathic medicine as practiced by the recipient of a degree of doctor of medicine. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Moral turpitude: means an offense, whether a misdemeanor or felony, that is related to extortion, burglary, larceny, bribery, embezzlement, robbery, racketeering, money laundering, forgery, fraud, murder, voluntary manslaughter or a sexual offense that requires the individual to register pursuant to section 13-3821. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Physician: means a doctor of medicine who is licensed pursuant to this chapter. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
• Process: means a citation, writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
• Restrict: means taking a disciplinary action that alters the physician's practice or professional activities if the board determines that there is evidence that the physician is or may be medically incompetent or guilty of unprofessional conduct. See Arizona Laws 32-1401
• Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
• Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
• Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
• United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Arizona Laws 1-215
• Unprofessional conduct: includes the following, whether occurring in this state or elsewhere:

  (a) Violating any federal or state laws, rules or regulations applicable to the practice of medicine. See Arizona Laws 32-1401

• Writing: includes printing. See Arizona Laws 1-215