§ 8850 — Definitions

§ 8850. Definitions. As used in this article: 1. The term\n"pathologists' assistant" means a person licensed to assist physicians\nwho practice pathology by providing services within the permitted scope\nof practice for pathologists' assistants as defined in subdivision four\nof this section. All such services shall be performed under the\ndirection and supervision of a licensed physician who practices anatomic\npathology.\n 2. The term "direction and supervision" means continuous direction and\nsupervision, but shall not be construed as necessarily requiring the\nphysical presence of the supervising physician at the time and place\nwhere such services are performed.\n 3. The term "physician" means a practitioner of medicine licensed to\npractice medicine pursuant to article one hundred thirty-one of this\ntitle.\n 4. The term "scope of practice for pathologists' assistants" means the\nprovision of the following services under the direction and supervision\nof a licensed physician who practices anatomic pathology: (a) preparing\ngross tissue sections for pathology analysis, including but not limited\nto, cutting, staining as required, describing gross anatomic features,\ndissecting surgical specimens, and submitting tissues for bio-banking,\nhistologic processing, or other analyses; (b) performing human\npostmortem examinations, including but not limited to, selection of\ntissues and fluids for further examination, external examination,\ndissection, and gathering and recording information for autopsy reports;\nand (c) other functions and responsibilities in furtherance of and\nconsistent with the foregoing as determined by the department. The term\ndoes not include the authority to diagnose or provide a medical opinion.\nServices of a pathologists' assistant must be performed in a laboratory\nor other site authorized under law to perform such services.\n 5. The term "committee" means the state committee for pathologists'\nassistants created by this article.\n