Wednesday, September 27 — On this date in 1772, America’s first medical licensing law was enacted by the colony of New Jersey. A licensing board was set up with three members, and the practice of medicine was forbidden without the approval of the panel. The licensing board was comprised of two New Jersey Supreme Court judges, and a third member chosen by the judges. Exempted from its oversight were colonists who pulled teeth, bled patients, or gave free care or assistance. Medical education and licensing has grown considerably stricter since 1772. Certainly, bleeding is no longer a recognized treatment.
Today, there are some 708,000 physicians and surgeons, working in over 225,000 medical offices, and practicing in the nearly 5,400 hospitals throughout the country.
Profile America is in its 21st year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
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