One of Incorporation Attorney’s clients is a D.O (doctor of osteopathy) who wanted to operate under a fictitious name. In the process, he encountered a significant challenge. While he first assumed registering with the California Medical Board would suffice, he later discovered that he was also required to get approval from the Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy. This regulatory body imposed stringent naming conventions, mandating that the fictitious name must contain one of six specific word groups related to osteopathy.

Unaware of these specific requirements, our client submitted his initial application with a proposed fictitious name that did not align with the Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy’s guidelines. Consequently, his application was rejected, and he found himself back at the starting point, having wasted valuable time and resources. Recognizing the complexities involved, our client sought the expertise of Incorporation Attorney, a firm specializing in guiding medical professionals through the legal and regulatory landscape.

Under the guidance of Incorporation Attorney, our was able to navigate the naming requirements successfully and obtain approval from both regulatory bodies. The approved fictitious name not only satisfied the legal prerequisites but also reflected the nature of his osteopathic practice. His experience underscores the importance of seeking professional guidance when navigating the intricate legal and regulatory requirements associated with establishing a medical practice, as partnering with experts can help avoid costly missteps and ensure compliance.

CAE STUDY: Doctors of Osteopathy’s Guide to California’s Naming Requirments for Professional Medical Corporations

The California professional medical corporation name requirements for a D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) can be both easy and complex depending on where you register. While the California Medical Board’s namestyle rules are clear, they are also more broad. 

The Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy’s can be more stringent and specific–which can be time-consuming if you miss even one requirement for naming your medical corporation in California as a DO. Failing to meet their specific requirements might send you back to square one without getting your fees back.  

When establishing a medical practice, choosing an appropriate name for your clinic is an important step. A lesson that our client, who is an osteopathic physician, learned: navigating the intricate naming requirements of regulatory bodies can be a daunting task. His experience also underscores the significance of seeking professional guidance to avoid costly missteps. 

Learn how Incorporation Attorney helped an aspiring private practitioner get through the complex process of registering a corporation with the California Medical Board and the Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy. 

The California Professional Medical Corporation Name Requirements for a D.O.: Our Client’s Dilemma 

The namestyle rules that the California Medical Boards and the Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy are similar in principle. Both require that your corporation’s name should be distinct and not misleading. However, the latter has an additional requirement for fictitious business names. This is where our client went wrong.  

Our client, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), sought to establish his private practice under a fictitious name. Initially, he thought following the California professional medical corporation name requirements for a D.O. would suffice. However, as a D.O., he was also required to obtain approval from the Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopath, which handles the namestyle rules differently and imposes more stringent naming conventions. 

The California Medical Board Naming Requirements 

The California professional medical corporation name requirements for a D.O. are relatively straightforward. If you want to operate under your corporation’s name, say Fred Flintstone Inc. or MD or PC, the California Medical Board (but note this is the Medical Board which is different than a D.O.’s board) will accept it with no additional paperwork since it has your last name in it and you are using a valid corporate designator. Among the other designators you can use are: 

• Professional Corporation 
• Prof. Corp. 
• Corporation 
• Corp. 
• Incorporated 
• Inc. 
• Medical Doctor 
• M.D. 
• Medical Corporation 
• Medical Corp. 
• Podiatrist 
• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine 
• D.P.M. 
• Podiatry Corporation 
• Podiatry Corp. 

However, a fictitious name is allowed if it is available and not misleading to the public.  For example, instead of Flintstone Inc., you may want to operate under the name “Bedrock Health Group,” you need to apply for a fictitious name permit (FNP) by filling out a form and submitting it to the California Medical Board. Again, if the fictitious name is not yet taken and not misleading to the public, the board will approve your submission.  

Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy 

Just as our client thought that the worst is over and he can start running his private practice sooner, the Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy rejects his application for a fictitious name permit (FPN)! That’s because the board for D.O.’s requires you to use any of its designated key phrases with both corporation and fictitious name. So apart from the rejection, you will be found in violation of the board’s rules and may have to start all over again. 

To obtain approval, the fictitious name must contain one of the following six appropriate word groups: 

• Osteopathic 
• Osteopathy 
• Osteopath 
• Osteopathic Medical 
• Osteopathic Physician 
• Osteopathic Medicine, and possibly other phrases as determined by the board  

Although this seems easy to fix, the process can be painful. It means having to re-incorporate, resubmit the Articles of Incorporation, re-apply for a fictitious name permit, and make sure that these names are compliant with the Medical Board for Doctors of Osteopathy and the California professional medical corporation name requirements for a D.O..  

The Misstep and its Consequences

More details coming soon…