Sponsor rolls bill barring use of "doctor" title in clinical settings without professional identification, vows rewrite

Representative Armstrong introduced legislation to add a section to the Uniform Licensing Act prohibiting a nonphysician health‑care provider with a doctoral degree from using the title "doctor" in clinical advertising or communication without also identifying their profession.

Proponents said the bill responds to a constituent case in which a patient said they were told a person was a doctor when they were not. Opponents — including a coalition of nurse practitioners, midwives, psychologists, and other health professionals represented by Linda Siegel — urged caution, saying the bill as drafted would sweep too broadly and could prohibit qualified professionals with doctoral degrees (PhD, PsyD) from using a professional title and that more precise language or exceptions are needed. Patient advocate Karen Kushner testified in support, saying she had been scheduled with a nurse practitioner after being told they were a doctor and found no supervising physician in the clinic.

Committee members asked practical questions about monitoring and enforcement; the sponsor and opponents discussed options such as requiring clearer badges or signage rather than an across‑the‑board prohibition. Representative N. Chavez and others pressed for language that would permit professionals to use "doctor" together with a descriptor (for example, "Doctor Jane Smith, PhD, clinical psychologist" or "Nurse Practitioner John Doe"). After extended discussion, the sponsor said she would "roll" the bill to work with stakeholders and with Linda Siegel's group to craft narrower language.

Ending: The sponsor asked to roll the bill for redrafting to address scope and enforcement concerns; the committee accepted the request and the bill was not advanced at this hearing.