2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 59. Professions and Occupations › §59-698.14b. Inability to practice due to mental illness or drug abuse - Required submission to alcohol or drug testing - Actions of Board - Reporting of impaired performance.

A. Impairment is defined as the inability of a person to practice veterinary medicine with reasonable skill and safety by reason of:
1. Mental illness; or
2. Habitual use or excessive use or abuse of drugs or chemicals defined in law as controlled substances or habit-forming substances, to include, but not be limited to, alcohol or other substances that impair the ability of the licensee or certificate holder to practice veterinary medicine.
B. Upon probable cause, the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may require a licensee or certificate holder or applicant for license or certificate to submit to any test to determine the use of alcohol or drugs which affects the ability of the licensee or certificate holder to practice veterinary medicine. The Board, by rule, shall establish the nature and criteria for any such test. The results of the test shall be admissible in any hearing before the Board. Failure to submit to the required test by any licensee, certificate holder or applicant when properly directed to do so by the Board shall be grounds for disciplinary action against a licensee or certificate holder and, for any applicant, shall be grounds for denial of license or certificate.
C. Upon findings by the Board, after evaluation and hearing, that the licensee, certificate holder or applicant is impaired, the Board may take one of the following actions or any other action deemed appropriate to the circumstances by the Board:
1. Direct the person to submit to care, counseling or treatment acceptable to the Board;
2. Suspend, limit or restrict the license or certificate to practice for the duration of the impairment; or
3. Revoke or refuse to renew the license or certificate or deny the application.
D. Any person who is prohibited from practicing pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be afforded at reasonable intervals the opportunity to present evidence or material not before seen by the Board to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that such person can resume or begin the practice of veterinary medicine with reasonable skill and safety; provided, that all fees have been paid and all requirements for licensure, certification, reinstatement or other form of authorization to practice have been satisfactorily completed.
E. 1. All licensees, certificate holders or faculty of veterinary medical schools shall report to the Board information about any and all colleagues that shows the colleagues are impaired.
2. The Board may establish rules for the approval of medically directed, nonprofit, voluntary treatment programs for impaired practitioners and to set standards for the treatment of practitioners.
3. The Board may exempt from reporting those who are conducting a Board-approved treatment program; provided that the impaired veterinarian who is participating in the program is doing so satisfactorily. Should the impaired veterinarian leave the program without first achieving a release by the program, the administrator of the program is required to report same to the Board. Participation in an approved treatment program does not protect an impaired veterinarian from Board action resulting from a report from another source of violation of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, whether related to the impairment or not.
4. Programs for the treatment of impaired professionals approved by this Board shall be reviewed annually or more frequently at the Board's discretion.
Added by Laws 1990, c. 314, § 14, eff. Sept. 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1999, c. 94, § 17, eff. Nov. 1, 1999.