Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Medicine
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Licensure of Athletic Trainers [18 VAC 85 ‑ 120]
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4/30/25  1:39 pm
Commenter: Brian Chang

Needles are a Medical Grade 2 Device - ATs are not medically qualified
 

Needles are Federally classified as a Medical Grade 2 Device.

Federal Medical Law states that only medical professionals that are qualified to handle needles (medical grade 2 device) are the following:

- MDs/DOs

- Dentists/Orthodontists/Oral Surgeons

- Registered Nurses/Nurse Practitioners

- Acupuncturists

All other professions are NOT considered medically qualified to handle needles. 

If an Athletic Trainer is NOT medically qualified to even perform stitches, how is it logical to allow them to stick 4-5 inch long needles into the torso of someone's body?  

Other states who have allowed unqualified professions, such as physical therapists and chiropractors, have seen more instances of punctured lungs and other internal injuries. 

USA Olympic Skier Torin Yater-Wallace suffered a collapsed lung from a chiropractor performing dry needling in the state of Colorado and missed the Sochi Olympics.  

This is about medical safety and medical qualifications based on medical training.  

 

CommentID: 234036