Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-698.14b

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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations Page 678

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.