Texas Administrative Code › Title 22 - EXAMINING BOARDS › Part 24 - TEXAS BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS › Chapter 573 - RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT › Subchapter G - OTHER PROVISIONS › Section 573.69 - Conditions Relative to License Suspension

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
If a Board disciplinary action is taken against a licensee
					 that results in the suspension of a license for a specified period of time, the
					 Board shall identify specific conditions (or prohibitions) relative to the
					 suspension. The conditions (or prohibitions) should be clearly stated as part
					 of the negotiated settlement or Board order. The following guidelines will be
					 utilized when specifying the conditions of a license suspension.
(1) Licensees shall not practice nor give the
				  appearance that they are practicing veterinary medicine or equine dentistry
				  during the time of suspension. The Board may provide a notice of the Board's
				  order of suspension for the licensee to post in the reception area or other
				  place clearly visible to the public.
(2) Licensees shall not supervise other
				  licensees, nor supervise, encourage, or allow any employee(s) who are not
				  licensed to practice in Texas, to perform duties described as the practice of
				  veterinary medicine or equine dentistry in the Veterinary Licensing Act, the
				  Rules of Professional Conduct, and other policies of the Board.
(3) During the period of downtime, licensees
				  shall notify all present and prospective employers of the Board order,
				  including the terms, conditions, and restrictions imposed. Within 30 days of
				  the effective date of the order and within 15 days of undertaking new
				  employment, licensees shall cause their employers to provide written
				  acknowledgment to the Board that they have read and understand the terms and
				  conditions of the Board order.
(4)
				  Licensees shall notify all veterinarians, equine dental providers, and
				  veterinary technician employees with whom the licensee practices of the Board
				  order and, within 30 days of the effective date of the order, licensees shall
				  acknowledge to the Board in writing that this has been done.
(5) A sole practitioner's clinic or
				  facilities may be used by the disciplined licensee for administrative purposes
				  only. Examples are opening mail, referring patients, accepting payments on
				  accounts, and general office tasks. In these instances, he/she must exercise
				  extreme caution to not be persuaded, coerced, or otherwise drawn by anyone to
				  practicing or even giving the appearance of practicing veterinary medicine or
				  equine dentistry. The licensee may lease the clinic/practice to, or employ,
				  another licensee to continue the clinic business during suspension.
(6) A disciplined veterinarian who
				  owns/operates a clinic and employs associate veterinarians may enter the clinic
				  or hospital for administrative purposes only, as cited in paragraph (5) of this
				  section.
(7) A disciplined licensee
				  shall abide by the Board's order and conform to all laws, rules, and
				  regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine and equine dentistry
				  in Texas.
(8) If the Board receives
				  information alleging that the licensee is practicing during the period of
				  suspension (downtime), Board staff will initiate an investigation. If there is
				  evidence to support the allegation, the licensee will be subject to further
				  disciplinary action.