title: State restrictions on the interstate practice of dermatopathology are unconstitutional: the tissue is the issue.
abstract: The regulation of the interstate practice of dermatopathology, teledermatopathology and teledermatology is the subject of discussion in many recent articles. Laws and regulations in many states complicate such interstate practice, requiring the dermatopathologist to be licensed in the state where the biopsy is taken if the dermatopathologist practices in and is licensed in a different state. To date, this discussion has been from the viewpoint of the dermatopathologist or dermatologist. But, when seen from the patient's viewpoint, its apparent that most such state regulation may be void as an unconstitutional infringement of a patient's fundamental right of unrestricted interstate travel under the Constitution of the United States of America.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Marsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.|Dermatology Center, UIC Hospital and Health Sciences System, Chicago, IL, USA.|Dermatology Section, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Feinberg
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003880:Dermatology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007061:Idaho; D007603:Jurisprudence; D010336:Pathology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States
keywords: constitutional rights; interstate pathology; teledermatology; teledermatopathology; telemedicine