The provisions of this chapter insofar as they are substantially the same as provisions relating to the same subject matter of previous medical practice acts shall be construed as restatements and continuations thereof, and not as new enactments.

The rights given by any certificate issued under any preceding medical practice act are not affected by the enactment of this chapter, nor by the repeal of any law upon which such rights are based, but such rights shall hereafter be exercised according to the provisions of this chapter.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other organization, or any combination thereof, except that only natural persons shall be licensed under this chapter.

“Professional” relates to the art and science of medicine and surgery and to such other arts and sciences as may be included within the field of medicine and surgery.

“Medical licensing authority” refers to any officer, board, commission, or department of another state upon whose certificate a reciprocity certificate may be issued.

Whenever a course of instruction is required for any certificate, it shall be satisfied by a resident course of medical instruction. Whenever a resident course of instruction is mentioned in this chapter, it shall be interpreted to mean classroom, laboratory, practical, and clinical instruction, received and given the person physically present, wherever prescribed as a part of his or her instruction and for the period prescribed for such instruction.

Whenever any requirement is provided for any certificate relating to a medical school or hospital, or any reference is made to a medical school or hospital, the medical school and hospital shall be ones approved by the Division of Licensing.

Whenever the words “diagnose” or “diagnosis” are used in this chapter, they include any undertaking by any method, device, or procedure whatsoever, and whether gratuitous or not, to ascertain or establish whether a person is suffering from any physical or mental disorder. Such terms shall also include the taking of a person’s blood pressure and the use of mechanical devices or machines for the purpose of making a diagnosis and representing to such person any conclusion regarding his or her physical or mental condition. Machines or mechanical devices for measuring or ascertaining height or weight are excluded from this section.

All certificates issued by the board shall state the extent and character of the practice which is permitted.

The terms “license” and “certificate” as used in this chapter are deemed to be synonomous.

The term “licensee” as used in this chapter means the holder of a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate or doctor of podiatric medicine’s certificate, as the case may be, who is engaged in the professional practice authorized by the certificate under the jurisdiction of the appropriate board.

Notwithstanding any other law, the Medical Board of California and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California shall require each applicant to furnish to the board a full set of fingerprints for purposes of conducting criminal history record checks. The board shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of all applicants, pursuant to subdivision (u) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code. The Department of Justice shall provide a state and federal response to the board pursuant to subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code. The Department of Justice shall charge a fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the fingerprints and response required by this section. The applicant shall be responsible for this

cost.