A person whose primary function is to provide health care for payment. Examples of health care practitioners include: doctors, nurses, audiologists and speech-language pathologists, chiropractors, chiropodists, dental professionals, dieticians, medical radiation technologists, medical laboratory technologists, massage therapists, midwives, optometrists, occupational therapists, opticians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists and respiratory therapists.
Health care is any observation, examination, assessment, care, service or procedure that is done for a health related purpose and that is carried out or provided:
- to diagnose, treat or maintain an individual’s physical or mental condition;
- to prevent disease or injury or to promote health;
- or as part of palliative care.