The licensing of medical practitioners in Tudor England: legislation enacted by Henry VIII.

The medical profession in all developed countries requires national licensing, to identify trained medical practitioners and to proceed against quacks and mountebanks. England began this process in 1421 in the reign of Henry V, but the required legislation was enacted much later, in the reign of Henry VIII. Seven acts of parliament, directed at different elements of medical practice are described, with comments on England under Henry VIII and the persons and institutions proposing these licensing requirements. Whilst some legal aspects of medicine remained unclear, no further legislation of any significance was undertaken in England until the Medical Act of 1858.