SECTION 545:1-5-9. Rules of professional conduct

  The Board hereby adopts a Code of Ethics, as follows:

(1)   A podiatrist, licensed as such under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, shall never willfully be guilty of conduct openly and grossly discreditable to the profession of podiatry.

(2)   In the presence of a patient, he shall not at any time, knowingly and directly, criticize a fellow licensed podiatrist as to his professional education, training, experience, sincerity, ability, methods, or the results of his professional work, knowing at the time said criticism to be untrue; and in no event shall he ever maliciously criticize a fellow licensed podiatrist.

(3)   He shall not offer, by means of gross untruths or gross exaggerations, to a patient of a fellow licensed podiatrist, more speedy work or results, better methods of work, or more lasting benefits, or substantially the same professional service.

(4)   He shall not maintain or keep nor attempt to maintain or keep any office, clinic, place of business, or establishment, for the practice of podiatry, as defined by the laws of the State of Oklahoma, in the same location, place of business, address or quarters used or occupied by any other person, who, at the time of such maintaining or keeping or attempt, is guilty of any act or omission, to the knowledge or reasonable belief of such licensed podiatrist, which at the time is made unlawful by the laws of said state, whether or not such person had been convicted of violating such laws, or who at the time of such maintaining or keeping or attempt does anything which as a licensed podiatrist he could not do without violating the spirit of this Code of Ethics.

(5)   When he accepts free professional treatment from a fellow licensed podiatrist, upon demand, he shall reimburse such fellow podiatrist for all actual expenses occasioned by said treatment.

(6)   No licensed podiatrist shall, directly or indirectly, publish, convey, or distribute, or cause the publishing, conveying, or distributing, of any statements or advertisements which may be deemed as untrue, deceptive, or misleading to the statements or advertisements, not be guilty of any act or omission constituting grossly dishonorable conduct upon his part.

(7)   He shall not divide, or permit or cause a division of, either directly or indirectly, with any person or partnership, association, trust, corporation, or firm, in any proportion, any fee, gift, compensation or other reward for his services as a podiatrist, except with another licensed podiatrist who actually has shared in the service or in the responsibility of tending the service or is, at the time of the service, an active associate in the practice of podiatry with him.

(8)   He shall not be guilty of any act or omission prompted by or constituting insincerity, rivalry, or envy in consulting professionally.

(9)   He shall strive to keep the respect of other legalized professions. He shall further strive to uphold the honor and maintain the dignity of the profession of podiatry; shall not unjustly stir up strife or litigation or ill will among or between members of the profession; shall not dishonorably seek to avoid performance or observance of agreements lawfully binding upon him; shall be prompt, conscientious, and fair in all professional matters, and shall endeavor to uphold and observe the law.

(10)   He shall not administer, prescribe, dispense, or otherwise furnish narcotic drugs to any person, or permit the same by anyone under his supervision, except upon his own prescription or order, and upon reasonable grounds to believe the same is properly indicated.

(11)   He shall neither employ or use in any way any capers, steerers, runners, or agents of any kind, to obtain patronage for him or for any other licensed podiatrist, nor offer or give commissions or compensation otherwise, directly or indirectly, to any person for attempting to secure or for securing any such patronage, other than in a manner expressly provided for and allowed herein.

(12)   Acceptance or claim of membership in this association shall be deemed subscribing to this association shall be deemed subscribing to this Code of Ethics; but whether a licensed podiatrist subscribes hereto, directly, or indirectly, he shall at all times be guilty of no act or omission in derogation of or contrary to this Code of Ethics.

(13)   Within the purview of this Code of Ethics, it shall be deemed to be unethical conduct for any licensed podiatrist to perform any act, either of omission or commission, contrary to the true intendments and spirit expressed in this Code of Ethics.

(14)   Any references to the masculine gender in this section, shall likewise apply to the feminine.

(15)   Any references in this section to a licensed podiatrist or to podiatry shall be synonymous with the terms chiropodist or chiropody.

(16)   The Oklahoma Podiatric Medical Association, Inc. referred to in this section is the former Oklahoma Podiatry Association, Inc., and the Oklahoma Chiropody Association, Inc., an Oklahoma non-profit corporation.

[Source: Amended at 12 Ok Reg 575, eff 11-28-94 (emergency); Amended at 12 Ok Reg 1239, eff 5-11-95]