Okla. Admin. Code § 435:10-7-4

Current through Vol. 42, No. 6, December 2, 2024

Section 435:10-7-4 - Unprofessional conduct

The Board has the authority to revoke or take other disciplinary action against a licensee or certificate holder for unprofessional conduct. Pursuant to 59 O.S., 1991, Section 509, "Unprofessional Conduct" shall be considered to include:

(1) Indiscriminate or excessive prescribing, dispensing or administering of Controlled or Narcotic drugs.

(2) Prescribing, dispensing or administering of Controlled substances or Narcotic drugs in excess of the amount considered good medical practice or prescribing, dispensing or administering controlled substances or narcotic drugs without medical need in accordance with published standard.

(3) The habitual or excessive use of any drug which impairs the ability to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to the patient.

(4) Issuing prescriptions for Narcotic or Controlled drugs to minors in violation of 63 O.S. 1978 Supp., Sections 2601 through 2606, as amended.

(5) Purchasing or prescribing any regulated substance in Schedule I through V, as defined by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act, for the physician's personal use.

(6) Dispensing, prescribing or administering a Controlled substance or Narcotic drug without medical need.

(7) The delegation of authority to another person for the signing of prescriptions for either controlled or non-controlled drugs, except as provided for in 59 O.S., 519.6D.

(8) Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a medical license or in connection with applying for or procuring periodic reregistration of a medical license.

(9) Cheating on or attempting to subvert the medical licensing examination(s).

(10) The conviction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude whether or not related to the practice of medicine and surgery.

(11) Conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public.

(12) Making a false or misleading statement regarding skill or the efficacy or value of the medicine, treatment, or remedy prescribed by a physician or at a physician's direction in the treatment of any disease or other condition of the body or mind.

(13) Representing to a patient that an incurable condition, sickness, disease, or injury can be cured.

(14) Willfully or negligently violating the confidentiality between physician and patient to the detriment of a patient except as required by law.

(15) Gross or repeated negligence in the practice of medicine and surgery.

(16) Being found mentally incompetent or insane by any court of competent jurisdiction; commitment to an institution for the insane shall be considered prima facie evidence of insanity of any physician or surgeon.

(17) Being physically or mentally unable to practice medicine and surgery with reasonable skill and safety.

(18) Practice or other behavior that demonstrates an incapacity or incompetence to practice medicine and surgery.

(19) The use of any false, fraudulent, or deceptive statement in any document connected with the practice of medicine and surgery.

(20) Practicing medicine and surgery under a false or assumed name.

(21) Aiding or abetting the practice of medicine and surgery by an unlicensed, incompetent, or impaired person.

(22) Allowing another person or organization to use a physician's license to practice medicine and surgery.

(23) Commission of any act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation related or unrelated to the licensee's practice of medicine and surgery.

(24) Prescribing, selling, administering, distributing, ordering, or giving any drug legally classified as a controlled substance or recognized as an addictive or dangerous drug for other than medically accepted therapeutic purposes.

(25) Except as otherwise permitted by law, prescribing, selling, administering, distributing, ordering, or giving to a habitue or addict or any person previously drug dependent, any drug legally classified as a controlled substance or recognized as an addictive or dangerous drug.

(26) Prescribing, selling, administering, distributing, ordering, or giving any drug legally classified as a controlled substance or recognized as an addictive dangerous drug to a family member or to himself or herself. Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to family members outside the second degree of consanguinity or affinity. Provided further that this paragraph shall not apply to medical emergencies when no other medical doctor is available to respond to the emergency.

(27) Violating any state or federal law or regulation relating to controlled substances.

(28) Obtaining any fee by fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, including fees from Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance.

(29) Employing abusive billing practices.

(30) Directly or indirectly giving or receiving any fee, commission, rebate, or other compensation for professional services not actually and personally rendered, though this prohibition shall not prohibit the legal function of lawful professional partnerships, corporations, or associations.

(31) Disciplinary action of another state or jurisdiction against a license or other authorization to practice medicine and surgery based upon acts of conduct by the licensee similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for action as defined in this section, a certified copy of the record of the action taken by the other state or jurisdiction being conclusive evidence thereof.

(32) Failure to report to the Board any adverse action taken against him or her by another licensing jurisdiction (United States or foreign), by any governmental agency, by any law enforcement agency, or by any court for acts or conduct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for action as defined in this section.

(33) Failure to report to the Board surrender of a license or other authorization to practice medicine and surgery in an other state or jurisdiction, or surrender of membership on any medical staff or in any medical or professional association or society while under disciplinary investigation by any of those authorities or bodies for acts or conduct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for action as defined in this section.

(34) Any adverse judgment, award, or settlement, or award arising from a medical liability claim related to acts or con- duct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for action as defined in this section.

(35) Failure to transfer pertinent and necessary medical records to another physician in a timely fashion when legally requested to do so by the subject patient or by a legally designated representative of the subject patient.

(36) Improper management of medical records.

(37) Failure to furnish the Board, its investigators or representatives, information lawfully requested by the Board.

(38) Failure to cooperate with a lawful investigation conducted by the Board.

(39) Violation of any provision(s) of the medical practice act or the rules and regulations of the Board or of an action, stipulation, or agreement of the Board.

(40) The inability to practice medicine and surgery with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of age, illness, drunkenness, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any other type of material or as a result of any mental or physical condition. To enforce this paragraph, the Board may, upon probable cause, request a physician to submit to a mental or physical examination by physicians designated by it. If the physician refuses to submit to the examination, the Board shall issue an order requiring the physician to show cause why he will not submit to the examination and shall schedule a hearing on the order within thirty (30) days after notice is served on the physician. The physician shall be notified by either personal service or by certified mail with return receipt requested. At the hearing, the physician and his attorney are entitled to present any testimony and other evidence to show why the physician should not be required to submit to the examination. After a complete hearing, the Board shall issue an order either requiring the physician to submit to the examination or withdrawing the request for examination. The medical license of a physician ordered to submit for examination may be suspended until the results of such examination are received and reviewed by the Board.

(41) Failure to provide a proper setting and assistive personnel for medical act, including but not limited to examination, surgery, or other treatment. Adequate medical records to support treatment or prescribed medications must be produced and maintained.

(42) Failure to inform the Board of a state of physical or mental health of the licensee or of any other health professional which constitutes or which the licensee suspects constitutes a threat to the public.

(43) Failure to report to the Board unprofessional conduct committed by another physician.

(44) Abuse of physician's position of trust by coercion, manipulation or fraudulent representation in the doctor-patient relationship.

(45) Engaging in predatory sexual behavior.

(46) Any doctor licensed in Oklahoma using that license for practice in another state, territory, district or federal facility who violates any laws in the state in which he/she is practicing or any federal, territorial or district laws that are in effect in the location in which he/she is using his/her Oklahoma license to practice.

(47) Causing, or assisting in causing, the suicide, euthanasia or mercy killing of any individual; provided that it is not causing, or assisting in causing, the suicide, euthanasia or mercy killing of any individual to prescribe, dispense or administer medical treatment for the purpose of alleviating pain or discomfort in accordance with Oklahoma Administrative Code 435:10-7-11, even if such use may increase the risk of death, so long as it is not also furnished for the purpose of causing, or the purpose of assisting in causing, death for any reason.

(48) Failing to obtain informed consent, based on full and accurate disclosure of risks, before prescribing, dispensing, or administering medical treatment for the therapeutic purpose of relieving pain in accordance with Oklahoma Administrative Code 435:10-7-11 where use may substantially increase the risk of death.

(49) Failure to establish a physician/patient relationship prior to providing patient-specific medical services, care or treatment, except in a clearly emergent, life threatening situation.

Okla. Admin. Code § 435:10-7-4

Amended at 9 Ok Reg 1579, eff 4-27-92; Amended at 10 Ok Reg 1529, eff 4-26-93; Amended at 10 Ok Reg 4375, eff 7-27-93 (emergency); Amended at 11 Ok Reg 1559, eff 4-4-94 (emergency); Amended at 11 Ok Reg 2329, eff 5-26-94; Amended at 11 Ok Reg 4535, eff 7-27-94 (emergency); Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1223, eff 5-11-95; Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1573, eff 8-21-95 (emergency); Amended at 13 Ok Reg 1703, eff 5-25-96; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1211, eff 5-14-99; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 856, eff 4-25-10