{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-698.14a","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-698.14a","heading":"Sanctions – Enforcement actions – Injunctions –","body":"Suspension or revocation of license or certificate – Complaints –\n\nHearings – Penalties.\n\nA. A range of sanctions is hereby made available to the State\n\nBoard of Veterinary Medical Examiners which includes, but is not\n\nlimited to:\n\n1. Revocation of licensure or certification;\n\n2. Suspension of licensure or certification;\n\n3. Probation of licensure or certification;\n\n4. Refusal to renew a license or certification;\n\n5. Injunctions and other civil court actions;\n\n6. Reprimand, censure, agreement to voluntary stipulation of\n\nfacts and imposition of terms of disciplinary action;\n\n7. Administrative citation and administrative penalties; and\n\n8. Prosecution through the office of the district attorney.\n\nB. 1. The Board may take such action as the nature of the\n\nviolation requires.\n\n2. Upon a determination that a violation has been committed,\n\nthe Board shall, by clear and convincing evidence, have the\n\nauthority to impose upon the alleged violator, the payment of costs\n\nexpended by the Board in investigating and prosecuting the cause, to\n\ninclude, but not be limited to, staff time, salary and travel\n\nexpenses, witness fees and attorney fees and same shall be\n\nconsidered part of the order of the Board.\n\n3. The Board shall make report of action to any association,\n\norganization or entity deemed appropriate for transmittal of the\n\npublic record but shall in no cause be held liable for the content\n\nof the reported action or be made a party to action taken as a\n\nresult of the sanction imposed by the State Board of Veterinary\n\nMedical Examiners.\n\nC. The president or secretary-treasurer of the Board may issue\n\na confidential letter of concern to a licensee or certificate holder\n\nwhen, though evidence does not warrant formal proceedings, there has\n\nbeen noted indications of possible misconduct by the licensee or\n\ncertificate holder that could lead to serious consequences and\n\nformal action.\n\nD. The Board may require an applicant for licensure or\n\ncertification or a licensee or certificate holder to be examined on\n\nthe applicant's or holder's medical knowledge and skills should the\n\nBoard find, after due process, that there is probable cause to\n\nbelieve the licensee or certificate holder or applicant may be\n\ndeficient in such knowledge and skills.\n\nE. The Board may take disciplinary action or other sanctions\n\nupon clear and convincing evidence of unprofessional or dishonorable\n\nconduct, which shall include, but not be limited to:\n\n1. Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a\n\nlicense or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in any\n\nfederal, state or local jurisdiction;\n\n2. Cheating on or attempting to cheat on or subvert in any\n\nmanner whatsoever the licensing or certificate examination or any\n\nportion thereof;\n\n3. The conviction of or entry of a guilty plea or plea of nolo\n\ncontendere involving a felony in this or any other jurisdiction,\n\nwhether or not related to the practice of veterinary medicine;\n\n4. Conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or harm the public;\n\n5. The making of a false or misleading statement regarding\n\none's skill or the efficacy or value of the medicine, treatment or\n\nremedy prescribed by the licensed veterinarian or at the licensed\n\nveterinarian's direction in the treatment of any disease or other\n\ncondition of the animal;\n\n6. Representing to a client that a manifestly incurable\n\ncondition, sickness, disease or injury can be cured or healed;\n\n7. Negligence in the practice of veterinary medicine;\n\n8. Practice or other behavior that demonstrates a manifest\n\nincapacity or incompetence to practice veterinary medicine;\n\n9. The use of any false, fraudulent or deceptive statement in\n\nany document connected with the practice of veterinary medicine;\n\n10. Failure to notify the Board of current address of practice;\n\n11. Aiding or abetting the practice of veterinary medicine by\nf veterinary medicine;\n\n8. Practice or other behavior that demonstrates a manifest\n\nincapacity or incompetence to practice veterinary medicine;\n\n9. The use of any false, fraudulent or deceptive statement in\n\nany document connected with the practice of veterinary medicine;\n\n10. Failure to notify the Board of current address of practice;\n\n11. Aiding or abetting the practice of veterinary medicine by\n\nan unlicensed, incompetent or impaired person;\n\n12. Habitual use or abuse of alcohol or of a habit-forming drug\n\nor chemical which impairs the ability of the licensee or certificate\n\nholder to practice veterinary medicine;\n\n13. Violation of any laws relating to the administration,\n\nprescribing or dispensing of controlled dangerous substances or\n\nviolation of any laws of the federal government or any state of the\n\nUnited States relative to controlled dangerous substances including,\n\nbut not limited to, prescribing, dispensing or administering opioid\n\ndrugs in excess of the maximum limits authorized in Section 2-309I\n\nof Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes;\n\n14. Obtaining a fee by fraud or misrepresentation;\n\n15. Directly or indirectly giving or receiving any fee,\n\ncommission, rebate or other compensation for professional services\n\nnot actually and personally rendered, not to preclude the legal\n\nfunction of a lawful professional partnership, corporation or\n\nassociation;\n\n16. Failure to report to the Board any adverse action taken by\n\nanother jurisdictional body, by any peer review body, health-related\n\nlicensing or disciplinary jurisdiction, law enforcement agency or\n\ncourt for acts or conduct related to the practice of veterinary\n\nmedicine;\n\n17. Failure to report to the Board surrender of a license or\n\nother certificate of authorization to perform functions based on the\n\nholding of a license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine\n\nor surrender of membership in any organization or association\n\nrelated to veterinary medicine while under investigation by that\n\nassociation or organization for conduct similar to or the same as\n\nacts which would constitute grounds for action as defined in the\n\nOklahoma Veterinary Practice Act;\n\n18. Failure to furnish the Board, its staff or agents\n\ninformation legally requested or failure to cooperate with a lawful\n\ninvestigation conducted by or on behalf of the Board;\n\n19. Failure to pay appropriately assessed fees or failure to\n\nmake any personal appearance required by the Board or any of its\n\nofficers;\n\n20. The practice of veterinary medicine in the absence of a\n\nbona fide veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The preclusion\n\nof a veterinarian-client-patient relationship by a veterinarian who\n\nin good faith renders or attempts to render emergency care to a\n\nvictim pursuant to a Good Samaritan application shall not constitute\n\ngrounds for discipline pursuant to the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice\n\nAct;\n\n21. Providing vaccinations or elective surgical procedures on\n\nskunks, namely Mephitis mephitis (striped), Conepatus mesoleusus\n\n(hog-nosed), and Spilogale putorius (spotted), unless the animal is\n\nunder the custody and care of a recognized zoological institution,\n\nresearch facility, or person possessing an appropriate and current\n\nwildlife permit issued by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife\n\nConservation or Oklahoma Department of Agriculture; or\n\n22. Violation of any provisions of the Oklahoma Veterinary\n\nPractice Act or the rules and policies of the Board or of an action,\n\nstipulation or agreement of the Board.\n\nF. 1. The Board may commence any legal action to enforce the\n\nprovision of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act and may exercise\n\nfull discretion and authority with respect to enforcement actions.\n\nAdministrative sanctions taken by the Board shall be made in\n\naccordance with Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act, the\n\nOklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, and other applicable laws of this\n.\n\nF. 1. The Board may commence any legal action to enforce the\n\nprovision of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act and may exercise\n\nfull discretion and authority with respect to enforcement actions.\n\nAdministrative sanctions taken by the Board shall be made in\n\naccordance with Article II of the Administrative Procedures Act, the\n\nOklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, and other applicable laws of this\n\nstate. The Board shall take appropriate enforcement action when\n\nrequired, assuring fairness and due process to the defendant.\n\n2. The Board or its designee may hold informal conferences to\n\nnegotiate a settlement of a dispute; provided that the conference is\n\nagreed to in writing by all parties and said conference does not\n\npreclude a hearing on the same matters. The Board shall not\n\nconsider the agreement binding should a hearing be held subsequent\n\nto the agreement.\n\nG. The Board may summarily suspend a license or certificate\n\nprior to a formal hearing when it has found upon clear and\n\nconvincing evidence that such action is required to protect the\n\npublic or animal health or welfare or when a person under the\n\njurisdiction of the Board is convicted of a felony, whether or not\n\nrelated to the practice of veterinary medicine; provided such action\n\nis taken simultaneously with proceedings for setting a formal\n\nhearing to be held within thirty (30) days after the summary\n\nsuspension.\n\nH. 1. The Board may issue an order to any licensee or\n\ncertificate holder, obtain an injunction or take other\n\nadministrative, civil or criminal court action against any person or\n\nany corporation or association, its officers, or directors, to\n\nrestrain said persons from violating the provisions of the Oklahoma\n\nVeterinary Practice Act.\n\n2. Violations of an injunction shall be punishable as contempt\n\nof court. No proof of actual damage to any animal shall be required\n\nfor issuance of an order or an injunction, nor shall an injunction\n\nrelieve those enjoined from administrative, civil or criminal\n\nprosecution for violation of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act.\n\nI. 1. The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may\n\nsuspend, revoke or refuse to renew the license or certificate of any\n\nperson holding license or certificate to practice veterinary\n\nmedicine in this state or place such person on probation for\n\nunprofessional conduct, but no such suspension or revocation or\n\nrefusal to renew, or probation shall be made, unless otherwise\n\nprovided for herein, until such be cited to appear for hearing. No\n\nsuch citation shall be issued except upon a sworn complaint filed\n\nwith the president or secretary-treasurer of said Board charging the\n\nlicensee or certificate holder with having been guilty of\n\nunprofessional conduct and setting forth the particular act or acts\n\nalleged to constitute such unprofessional conduct.\n\n2. In the event it comes to the attention of the Board that a\n\nviolation of the rules of professional conduct may have occurred,\n\neven though a formal complaint or charge may not have been filed,\n\nthe Board may conduct an investigation of such possible violation,\n\nand may, upon its own motion, institute a formal complaint. In the\n\ncourse of such investigation, persons appearing before the Board may\n\nbe required to testify under oath.\n\nJ. 1. Upon the filing of a complaint, either by an individual\n\nor the Board, the citation shall be issued by the president or\n\nsecretary-treasurer of the Board over such officer's signature and\n\nseal of the Board, setting forth the particulars of the complaint,\n\nand giving due notice of the time and place of the hearing by the\n\nBoard. The citation shall be made returnable at the next meeting of\n\nthe Board at which hearing is set and shall be no less than thirty\nthe Board, the citation shall be issued by the president or\n\nsecretary-treasurer of the Board over such officer's signature and\n\nseal of the Board, setting forth the particulars of the complaint,\n\nand giving due notice of the time and place of the hearing by the\n\nBoard. The citation shall be made returnable at the next meeting of\n\nthe Board at which hearing is set and shall be no less than thirty\n\n(30) days after issuance of the citation;\n\n2. The accused shall file a written answer under oath with\n\nnotice of intent to appear or be represented within twenty (20) days\n\nafter the service of the citation. Failure to respond to the\n\ncitation within the prescribed time shall constitute default;\n\n3. The license or certificate of the accused shall be\n\nsuspended, revoked or not renewed if the charges are found, by clear\n\nand convincing evidence, sufficient by the Board; provided, the\n\npresident or secretary-treasurer of the Board may extend the time of\n\nanswer upon satisfactory showing that the defendant is for\n\nreasonable cause, unable to answer within the prescribed twenty (20)\n\ndays, but in no case shall the time be extended beyond the date of\n\nthe next scheduled meeting for hearing the complaint, unless\n\ncontinuance thereof be granted by the Board; and\n\n4. All citations and subpoenas under the contemplation of the\n\nOklahoma Veterinary Practice Act shall be served in general\n\naccordance with the statutes of this state applying to the service\n\nof such documents. All provisions of the statutes of this state\n\nrelating to citations and subpoenas are hereby made applicable to\n\nthe citations and subpoenas herein provided. All the provisions of\n\nthe statutes of this state governing the taking of testimony by\n\ndepositions are made applicable to the taking of depositions\n\npursuant to the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act.\n\nK. The Executive Director, secretary-treasurer, designee, or\n\nprosecuting attorney for the Board, during the course of any lawful\n\ninvestigation, may order or subpoena the attendance of witnesses,\n\nthe inspection of records, and premises and the production of\n\nrelevant records, books, memoranda, documents, radiographs, or other\n\npapers or things for the investigation of matters that may come\n\nbefore the Board.\n\nL. 1. The attendance of witnesses may be compelled in such\n\nhearings by subpoenas issued by the president or secretary-treasurer\n\nof the Board over the seal thereof, and the president or secretary-\n\ntreasurer shall in no case refuse to issue subpoenas upon praecipe\n\nfiled therefor accompanied by the fee set by the Board by rule for\n\nthe issuance of such subpoenas.\n\n2. If any person refuses to obey a subpoena properly served\n\nupon such person or in the manner, the fact of such refusal shall be\n\ncertified by the secretary-treasurer of the Board over the seal\n\nthereof to the district attorney of the county in which such service\n\nwas had, and the court shall proceed to hear said matter in\n\naccordance with the statutes of this state then in force governing\n\ncontempt as for disobedience of its own process.\n\nM. 1. The State of Oklahoma is a proper and necessary party in\n\nthe prosecution of all such actions and hearings before the Board in\n\nall matters pertaining to unprofessional conduct and disciplinary\n\naction. The Attorney General of the state, in person or by deputy,\n\nis authorized to appear in behalf thereof. The defendant in any\n\nsuch actions shall have the right to be represented by counsel.\n\n2. The Board is empowered to enter into agreement with or\n\nemploy one or more attorneys to conduct the business of the Board in\n\nthe absence of representation by the Attorney General or designee or\n\nin conjunction with representation by the Attorney General or\n\ndesignee.\n\n3. The Board shall sit as a trial body and the rulings of the\nThe Board is empowered to enter into agreement with or\n\nemploy one or more attorneys to conduct the business of the Board in\n\nthe absence of representation by the Attorney General or designee or\n\nin conjunction with representation by the Attorney General or\n\ndesignee.\n\n3. The Board shall sit as a trial body and the rulings of the\n\nBoard shall be by majority vote. Appeal to the rulings thereof\n\nshall be by petition to the district court of the district in which\n\nthe hearing was held. The secretary-treasurer of the Board shall\n\ncause a record of all proceedings to be made and a transcript of the\n\nproceedings or any part thereof may be obtained by payment of actual\n\ncost of taking and preparation of transcript of such proceedings or\n\npart thereof.\n\nN. All final disciplinary actions, license denials, related\n\nfindings of fact and conclusions of law are matters of public\n\nrecord. Voluntary surrender of and voluntary limitations on the\n\nveterinarian's practice or license shall be public record.\n\nO. Certificate holders or faculty of veterinary medical schools\n\nshall report to the Board in writing any information that gives\n\nreason to believe a veterinarian is incompetent, guilty of\n\nunprofessional conduct or is unable to engage safely in the practice\n\nof veterinary medicine. Cause for reporting shall be for, but not\n\nlimited to, the following instances:\n\n1. Voluntary resignation from a professional partnership,\n\ncorporation or practice for reason of inability to practice;\n\n2. Malpractice claims, judgments, settlements or awards;\n\n3. Civil or criminal convictions; or\n\n4. Other actions that indicate inability to practice with\n\nreasonable skill and safety.\n\nP. The Board shall consider violation of any of the Rules of\n\nProfessional Conduct a violation of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice\n\nAct section on unprofessional conduct and shall proceed with\n\ndisciplinary action as set out in the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice\n\nAct.\n\nQ. 1. In addition to other penalties prescribed by the\n\nOklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, any person who the Board has\n\ndetermined by clear and convincing evidence to have violated any\n\nprovisions of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, or any rule or\n\norder issued pursuant thereto shall be liable for an administrative\n\npenalty of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for each\n\nday that the violation continues.\n\n2. The amount of the penalty shall be assessed by the Board\n\npursuant to the provisions of paragraph 1 of this subsection, after\n\nnotice and hearing. In determining the amount of the penalty, the\n\nBoard shall, by clear and convincing evidence, include, but not be\n\nlimited to, consideration of the nature, circumstances, and gravity\n\nof the violation and, with respect to the person found to have\n\ncommitted the violation, the degree of culpability, the effect on\n\nability of the person to continue to do business, and any show of\n\ngood faith in attempting to achieve compliance with the provisions\n\nof the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act.\n\n3. All penalties collected pursuant to the provisions of this\n\nsubsection shall be deposited in the Veterinary Medical Examiners\n\nFund.","path":["OK Code","Title 59"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os59.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"2905077316eed23fcbf66fc9ddd8ade37a9403aa7a882d879227c62562f0ad5e","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-698.12","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-59-59-698.14b"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}