Administration of Oxygen

Can a chiropractic physician administer oxygen?

After lengthy negotiations, lobbying efforts, and drafts, the ICS passed legislation in 2011 clarifying the scope of practice for a chiropractic physician:

“Chiropractic physician” means a person licensed to treat human ailments without the use of drugs and without operative surgery. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a chiropractic physician from providing advice regarding the use of non-prescription products or from administering atmospheric oxygen. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize a chiropractic physician to prescribe drugs.”

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As you can see, the core definition of chiropractic remains intact, a physician licensed to treat without drugs or operative surgery. But the law now clarifies that oxygen therapies are specifically allowed within their practice.

Note: This does not allow a chiropractic physician to utilize or prescribe a liquid oxygen tank for a patient to take home and self-administer, and it also contains specific negotiated language prohibiting any prescriptive drug authority.