SECTION 310:641-5-33. Certification and licensure enforcement actions

(a)   The Department may revoke, suspend, place on probation, fine, or deny any license or certificate, or renewal of any license or certificate for the following:

(1)   Violations of any provision of Oklahoma statutes, the Act, or this Chapter;

(2)   permitting, aiding, abetting, or conspiring with a person to violate or circumvent a law relating to licensure or certification;

(3)   fraud, misrepresentation, deception, or concealment of a material fact in applying for or assisting in securing a license or license renewal or in taking an examination required for licensure;

(4)   signing or issuing, in the licensee's professional capacity, a document or statement that the licensee knows or reasonably ought to know contains a false or misleading statement;

(5)   a misleading, deceptive, false, or fraudulent advertisement or other representation in the conduct of the profession or occupation;

(6)   offering, giving, or promising anything of value or benefit, as prohibited in Oklahoma law or rule, to a Federal, state, or local government employee or official for the purpose of influencing the employee or official to circumvent a Federal, state, or local law, rule, or ordinance governing the licensee's profession or occupation;

(7)   conviction, adjudication, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, for an offense involving moral turpitude, whether a misdemeanor or felony, and whether or not an appeal is pending;

(8)   permitting, aiding, or abetting any illegal act;

(9)   conduct of any practice that is detrimental to the welfare of the patient or potential users of the service;

(10)   conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public including, but not limited to, practicing while subject to a physical or mental condition which renders the licensee unable to safely engage in activities required of a licensee under this subchapter;

(11)   acting in such a manner as to present a danger to public health or safety, or to any patient including, but not limited to incompetence, negligence, malpractice, or engaging in conduct in the course of one's practice while suffering from a contagious or infectious disease involving serious risk to public health without taking adequate precautions;

(12)   engaging in any act which is designed or intended to hinder, impede, or obstruct an investigation of any matter governed by the Act or by lawful authority;

(13)   making a false or misleading statement regarding the licensee's skill in connection with the activities required of a licensee under this subchapter;

(14)   use of a false, fraudulent, or deceptive statement, whether written or verbal, in connection with the activities required of a licensee under this subchapter;

(15)   knowingly make a false statement of material fact;

(16)   failure to disclose a fact necessary to correct a misapprehension known by the licensee to have arisen in the application or the matter under investigation;

(17)   failure to respond to a demand for information made by the Department or any designated representative thereof;

(18)   interference with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding by willful misrepresentation of facts, by use of threats or harassment against or inducement to a client or witness to prevent them from providing evidence in a disciplinary proceeding or other legal action, or by use of threats or harassment against or inducement to a person to prevent or attempt to prevent a disciplinary proceeding or other legal action from being filed, prosecuted, or completed;

(19)   having been subject to disciplinary action of another state or jurisdiction against a license or other authorization, based upon acts or conduct by the licensee similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action. A report from the National Practitioners Database (NPDB) or a certified copy of the record of the action taken by the other state or jurisdiction is evidence of unprofessional conduct;

(20)   having voluntarily relinquished or surrendered a professional or occupational license, certificate, or registration in this state or in another state;

(21)   having withdrawn an application for licensure, certification, or registration while under investigation or prior to a determination of the completed application in this state or in another state or jurisdiction;

(22)   failure to practice within the scope of practice of the certificate or license as established by the Department or by the medical director;

(23)   failure to practice within adopted protocols and procedures established and approved by the Department and the medical director;

(24)   failure to practice within the protocols set forth by the medical director and approved by the Department;

(25)   habitual intemperance or excessive use of an addictive drug, alcohol, or other substance to the extent that the use impairs the user physically or mentally; this provision does not apply to a licensee who is in compliance with an approved therapeutic regimen under a physicians' care;

(26)   filing a complaint with or providing information to the Department which the licensee knows, or ought to know, is false or misleading. This provision does not apply to any filing of a complaint or providing information to the board when done in good faith;

(27)   failing to report to the Department any adverse judgement or award arising from a medical liability claim or other unprofessional conduct;

(28)   committing any act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or exploitation by the licensee whether or not related to the practice;

(29)   failing to exercise technical competence in carrying out medically authorized skills, medication administration, or procedures related to their scope of practice;

(30)   unauthorized possession of patient care reports, falsifying, or altering patient care reports, intentionally documenting patient records incorrectly, failing to document patient care records, or prepare patient care reports,

(31)   revealing confidential information obtained as the result of a professional relationship without the prior consent of the recipient of services except as authorized or required by law;

(32)   diversion of a medication for any purpose or a violation of state or Federal laws governing the administration of medications;

(33)   failing as a clinical preceptor or lead instructor, to supervise, manage or train students practicing under the licensee's supervision, according to:

(A)   scope of practice,

(B)   generally accepted standards of patient care,

(C)   board approved instructional guidelines,

(D)   protocols, policies, and procedures,

(34)   willfully harassing, abusing, or intimidating a patient or student, either physically or verbally;

(35)   practicing as an emergency medical professional at any level without a current, active Oklahoma certification or license;

(36)   failing to comply with administrative orders, to include probation, suspension, or revocation orders;

(37)   failure to comply with a term, condition, or limitation of a certificate or license by final order of the Department;

(38)   any other act, whether specifically enumerated or not, that in fact constitutes unprofessional conduct;

(39)   failing to report to the Department the unprofessional conduct or noncompliance of regulations of other certified or licensed emergency medical providers;

(40)   conduct that does not meet the generally accepted standards of practice, which may be, but not required to be, supported by malpractice judgements, or tort judgements; and

(41)   Failing to report the institution of or final action on a malpractice action, including a final decision on appeal, against the licensee or of an action against the licensee by a:

(A)   peer review committee;

(B)   professional association; or

(C)   local, state, Federal, territorial, provincial, or tribal government.

(b)   Any license or certificate issued by the Department may voluntarily be surrendered at any time during the license period for any reason by the license/certificate holder. The voluntary surrender of a license or certificate does not preclude the Department's authority to complete any pending action against said license/certificate holder. A surrendered license/certificate shall be treated as if revoked by the Department.

(c)   The Department may require a one (1) year period from the date of revocation before the license / certificate holder may apply for a license or certificate from the Department.

(d)   If in the course of an investigation the Department determines that a license/certificate/permit holder or applicant has engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the public, and which conduct necessitates immediate action to prevent further harm, the Commissioner may order a summary suspension of the license/certificate/permit holder's license, certificate, or permit respectively. A presumption of imminent harm to the public shall exist if the Department determines probable cause for conduct of any practice that is detrimental to the welfare of the patient or potential users of the service exists.

(e)   In addition to any other penalties, a civil fine of not more than one hundred ($100.00) dollars per violation per day may be assessed, for violations of the Act or this Chapter.

[Source: Amended and renumbered from 310:641-5-80 at 33 Ok Reg 1529, eff 9-11-16; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 1423, eff 9-11-20]