Section 11-403 - Titles. - Maryland Statutes

§ 11-403. Titles.
 

(a)  Permitted titles.- A licensed optometrist may: 

(1) Use the title "optometrist"; 

(2) If the optometrist holds the degree of doctor of optics or doctor of optometry from a college or university authorized to give the degree, use the title "Doctor" or the abbreviations "Dr." or "O.D." with the optometrist's name; 

(3) If the optometrist is certified under § 11-404 of this subtitle, use the title "diagnostically certified optometrist"; and 

(4) If the optometrist is certified under § 11-404.1 of this subtitle, use the title "therapeutically certified optometrist". 

(b)  Prohibited titles.- Except as otherwise provided in this section, a licensed optometrist may not attach to the optometrist's name or use as a title: 

(1) The words or abbreviations "Doctor", "Dr.", "M.D.", "physician", or "surgeon", or any other word or abbreviation that suggests that the optometrist practices medicine; or 

(2) Any word or abbreviation that suggests that the optometrist treats diseases or injuries of the human eye, including the words "eye specialist", "eyesight specialist", "oculist", or "ophthalmologist". 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 43, §§ 379, 381; 1981, ch. 8, § 2; 1990, ch. 6, § 11; 1995, ch. 521.]