Florida § 459.017 - Osteopathic physician’s consent; handwriting samples; mental or physical examinations.

§ 459.017. Osteopathic physician’s consent; handwriting samples; mental or physical examinations.

Every osteopathic physician who accepts a license or certificate to practice osteopathic medicine in this state shall, by so accepting the license or certificate or by making and filing a renewal of licensure or certification to practice in this state, be deemed to have given her or his consent during a lawful investigation of a complaint to the following: (1) To render a handwriting sample to an agent of the department and, further, to have waived any objections to its use as evidence against her or him. (2) To waive the confidentiality and authorize the preparation and release of all medical reports pertaining to the mental or physical condition of the osteopathic physician herself or himself when the department has reason to believe that a violation of this chapter has occurred and when the department issues an order, based on the need for additional information, to produce such medical reports for the time period relevant to the complaint. As used in this section, the term “medical reports” means a compilation of medical treatment of the osteopathic physician herself or himself, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment prescribed, relevant history, and progress. (3) To waive any objection to the admissibility of the medical reports as constituting privileged communications. Such material maintained by the department shall remain confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) until probable cause is found and an administrative complaint issued.