Oklahoma § 59-509 - Unprofessional conduct - Definition

§ 59-509. Unprofessional conduct - Definition

The words “unprofessional conduct” as used in Sections 481

through 518.1 of this title are hereby declared to include, but

shall not be limited to, the following:

1. Procuring, aiding or abetting a criminal operation;

2. The obtaining of any fee or offering to accept any fee,

present or other form of remuneration whatsoever, on the assurance

or promise that a manifestly incurable disease can or will be cured;

3. Willfully betraying a professional secret to the detriment

of the patient;

4. Habitual intemperance or the habitual use of habit-forming

drugs;

5. Conviction or confession of, or plea of guilty, nolo

contendere, no contest or Alford plea to a felony or any offense

involving moral turpitude;

6. All advertising of medical business in which statements are

made which are grossly untrue or improbable and calculated to

mislead the public;

7. Conviction or confession of, or plea of guilty, nolo

contendere, no contest or Alford plea to a crime involving violation

of:

a.

the antinarcotic or prohibition laws and regulations

of the federal government,

b.

the laws of this state,

c.

State Commissioner of Health rules, or

d.

a determination by a judge or jury;

8. Dishonorable or immoral conduct which is likely to deceive,

defraud, or harm the public;

9. The commission of any act which is a violation of the

criminal laws of any state when such act is connected with the

physician’s practice of medicine. A complaint, indictment or

confession of a criminal violation shall not be necessary for the

enforcement of this provision. Proof of the commission of the act

while in the practice of medicine or under the guise of the practice

of medicine shall be unprofessional conduct;

10. Failure to keep complete and accurate records of purchase

and disposal of controlled drugs or of narcotic drugs;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

11. The writing of false or fictitious prescriptions for any

drugs or narcotics declared by the laws of this state to be

controlled or narcotic drugs;

12. Prescribing or administering a drug or treatment without

sufficient examination and the establishment of a valid physicianpatient relationship and not prescribing in a safe, medically

accepted manner;

13. The violation, or attempted violation, direct or indirect,

of any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Allopathic Medical and

Surgical Licensure and Supervision Act, either as a principal,

accessory or accomplice;

14. Aiding or abetting, directly or indirectly, the practice of

medicine by any person not duly authorized under the laws of this

state;

15. The inability to practice medicine 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. In

enforcing this section the State Board of Medical Licensure and

Supervision 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 the

physician 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, exclusive of the day of service. The physician

shall be notified by either personal service or by certified mail

with return receipt requested. At the hearing, the physician and

the physician’s 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 the examination are received and

reviewed by the Board;

16. a.

Prescribing, dispensing or administering of controlled

substances or narcotic drugs in excess of the amount

considered good medical practice,

b.

Prescribing, dispensing or administering controlled

substances or narcotic drugs without medical need in

accordance with pertinent licensing board standards,

or

c.

Prescribing, dispensing or administering opioid drugs

in excess of the maximum limits authorized in Section

2-309I of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

17. Engaging in physical conduct with a patient which is sexual

in nature, or in any verbal behavior which is seductive or sexually

demeaning to a patient;

18. Failure to maintain an office record for each patient which

accurately reflects the evaluation, treatment, and medical necessity

of treatment of the patient;

19. Failure to provide necessary ongoing medical treatment when

a doctor-patient relationship has been established, which

relationship can be severed by either party providing a reasonable

period of time is granted;

20. Performance of an abortion as defined by Section 1-730 of

Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, except for an abortion necessary

to prevent the death of the mother or to prevent substantial or

irreversible physical impairment of the mother that substantially

increases the risk of death. The performance of an abortion on the

basis of the mental or emotional health of the mother shall be a

violation of this paragraph, notwithstanding a claim or diagnosis

that the woman may engage in conduct which she intends to result in

her death. The Board shall impose a penalty as provided in Section

509.1 of this title on a licensee who violates this paragraph. The

penalty shall include, but not be limited to, suspension of the

license for a period not less than one (1) year;

21. Failure to provide a proper and safe medical facility

setting and qualified assistive personnel for a recognized medical

act, including but not limited to an initial in-person patient

examination, office surgery, diagnostic service or any other medical

procedure or treatment. Adequate medical records to support

diagnosis, procedure, treatment or prescribed medications must be

produced and maintained; or

22. Knowingly providing gender transition procedures as defined

in Section 1 of this act to a child.

Added by Laws 1923, c. 59, p. 110, § 29, emerg. eff. March 31, 1923.

Amended by Laws 1925, c. 63, p. 96, § 5, emerg. eff. April 6, 1925;

Laws 1973, c. 99, § 1, emerg. eff. May 2, 1973; Laws 1980, c. 208, §

1, emerg. eff. May 30, 1980; Laws 1993, c. 338, § 1, eff. Sept. 1,

1993; Laws 1995, c. 211, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 1995; Laws 1998, c. 324,

§ 10, emerg. eff. May 28, 1998; Laws 2004, c. 523, § 9, emerg. eff.

June 9, 2004; Laws 2009, c. 261, § 7, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2018,

c. 175, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2019, c. 492, § 8, eff. Nov. 1,

2019; Laws 2020, c. 161, § 36, emerg. eff. May 21, 2020; Laws 2021,

c. 205, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021; Laws 2023, c. 150, § 2, emerg. eff.

May 1, 2023.

NOTE: Laws 2019, c. 428, § 6 repealed by Laws 2020, c. 161, § 37,

emerg. eff. May 21, 2020.