Sec. 453.302. TREATING PATIENT WITHOUT REFERRAL

(a) In this section:

(1) "Emergency circumstance" means an instance in which emergency medical care is necessary.

(2) "Emergency medical care" means a bona fide emergency service provided after the sudden onset of a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in:

(A) serious jeopardy to the patient's health;

(B) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part; or

(C) serious impairment to bodily functions.

(b) In an emergency circumstance, including a minor emergency, a physical therapist may provide emergency medical care to a person to the best of the therapist's ability without a referral from a referring practitioner.

(c) A physical therapist may provide physical assessments or instructions to an asymptomatic person without a referral from a referring practitioner.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.