Tag: legal counsel

Medical practice in Ohio, self prescribing, State Medical Board of Ohio, Uncategorized

Ohio Physicians considering retirement should make the decision voluntarily and prior to being compelled to retire by the State Medical Board of Ohio

Questions often arise as to when it is appropriate to retire from the practice of medicine.  In many instances, physicians who are happy and healthy do not want to consider retirement.  Many physicians have told me that they have devoted their entire life to their medical practice and that, because they do not have any other hobbies, skills, or interests, they desire to continue to practice medicine. Additionally, physicians have told me that they are concerned that they may not have the financial means to stop working. Finally, many physicians are concerned that they will miss the daily interaction with their staff and their patients.

The State Medical Board of Ohio (“Medical Board”) does not have a specific retirement age.  A Physician with a valid license to practice medicine in Ohio may continue to do so for so as long as they are mentally and physically fit to practice and comply with Medical Board laws and rules.  However, if the Medical Board has reason to believe that a physician is unfit to practice medicine, the Medical Board has the legal authority to order a physician to a medical or mental health evaluation.

Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.22(B)(19) provides:

“(B) The board, by an affirmative vote of not fewer than six members, shall, to the extent permitted by law, limit, revoke, or suspend an individual’s certificate to practice or certificate to recommend, refuse to issue a certificate to an individual, refuse to renew a certificate, refuse to reinstate a certificate, or reprimand or place on probation the holder of a certificate for one or more of the following reasons:

(19) Inability to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care by reason of mental illness or physical illness, including, but not limited to, physical deterioration that adversely affects cognitive, motor, or perceptive skills.

In enforcing this division, the board, upon a showing of a possible violation, may compel any individual authorized to practice by this chapter or who has submitted an application pursuant to this chapter to submit to a mental examination, physical examination, including an HIV test, or both a mental and a physical examination. The expense of the examination is the responsibility of the individual compelled to be examined. Failure to submit to a mental or physical examination or consent to an HIV test ordered by the board constitutes an admission of the allegations against the individual unless the failure is due to circumstances beyond the individual’s control, and a default and final order may be entered without the taking of testimony or presentation of evidence.

For the purpose of this division, any individual who applies for or receives a certificate to practice under this chapter accepts the privilege of practicing in this state and, by so doing, shall be deemed to have given consent to submit to a mental or physical examination when directed to do so in writing by the board, and to have waived all objections to the admissibility of testimony or examination reports that constitute a privileged communication. (emphasis added)

If the Medical Board has reason to believe that a physician is unable to practice according to acceptable and prevailing standards of care by reason of mental illness or physical illness, a formal disciplinary action may be commenced.  This action may include (but is not limited to) ordering the physician to undergo a mental and/or physical examination.  Failure to submit to a mental and/or physical examination as ordered by the board constitutes an admission of the allegations against the physician, unless the failure is due to circumstances beyond the physician’s control.

On the basis of the mental and/or physical examination, the Medical Board can require the physician to submit to care, counseling, or treatment by physicians approved or designated by the Medical Board as a condition for reinstatement to practice.  The physician will receive an opportunity to demonstrate to the Medical Board their ability to resume practice in compliance with acceptable and prevailing standards under the provisions of the individual’s certificate.

In order to suspend a physician’s medical license, or to recommend retirement, the Medical Board must find that the physician’s continued practice, “presents a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.”

In the past few years, we have seen the Medical Board order certain physicians to submit to a mental and/or physical examination. Based on the result of those examinations, the Medical Board has either suspended the physician’s license or requested that they enter into a “voluntary” permanent retirement of their medical license.

As always, if you have questions about this post or the State Medical Board of Ohio in general, please feel free to contact one of the attorneys at the Collis Law Group LLC at 614-486-3909 or email me at beth@collislaw.com.

State Medical Board of Ohio, Uncategorized

The Ohio Medical Board’s “slip rule” and when to contact the Ohio Medical Board if you relapse

Happy New Year!

I am often asked what Ohio physicians who are under probation with the Ohio Medical Board should do, if they relapse on drugs and/or alcohol or if they believe they have inadvertently been exposed to alcohol or a drug that may cause impairment.

If you are licensed to practice medicine in the State of Ohio, the Ohio Medical Board may take an action against your professional license if it has reason to believe that you are impaired in your ability to practice medicine (OAC 4731-16-01).  In such event, typically, a physician will enter into a Step I Consent Agreement with the Ohio Medical Board in which the physician’s medical license is suspended while they seek treatment for substance or alcohol abuse or addiction.

Once the physician has completed treatment and the Ohio Medical Board determines they are fit to resume practice,  the physician will be offered a Step II Consent Agreement, which reinstates the physician’s medical license subject to probationary terms.  Once a physician’s license is reinstated, they are generally placed on probation for five years. During probation, they are typically required to maintain abstinence, submit to random drug and/or alcohol testing, complete aftercare treatment, attend AA (12 Step) meetings, and complete other monitoring conditions.

During probation, the physician is not permitted to consume any alcohol and/or ingest drugs (except as prescribed).  The physician will be subjected to random alcohol and/or drug testing that is highly sensitive and can detect even incidental exposure.

What should the physician who is under probation with the Ohio Medical Board do if they consume alcohol or a drug to which they have not been prescribed or  believe they have been inadvertently exposed to these substances? 

A relapse is defined in Ohio Administrative Code 4731-16-01(B) as follows:

“Relapse” means any use of, or obtaining for the purpose of using, alcohol or a drug or substance that may impair ability to practice, by someone who has received a diagnosis of and treatment for chemical dependency or abuse, except pursuant to the directions of a treating physician who has knowledge of the patient’s history and of the disease of addiction, or pursuant to the direction of a physician in a medical emergency. An instance of use that occurs during detoxification treatment or inpatient or residential treatment before a practitioner’s disease of addiction has been brought into remission does not constitute a relapse.”

If a physician relapses on alcohol or a drug to which they have not been prescribed, the Ohio Medical Board may take further action against their professional license, including but not limited to suspending their license and/or requiring them to seek additional treatment.  However, if the physician is experiencing a first time relapse by consuming alcohol (or a drug) for less than one day, the Ohio Medical Board may determine that it will not take further action, if the physician immediately seeks treatment, self reports to the Ohio Medical Board within 48 hours of the relapse and follows all other requirements of OAC 4731-16-02(D).

OAC 4731-16-02, commonly known at the “slip-rule”, may prevent a physician from having their Ohio medical license suspended or being subjected to further discipline by the Ohio Medical Board in the event of a relapse. However, the physician must meet all of the requirements of the rule.  If you are a physician who is subject to monitoring by the Ohio Medical Board for alcohol or drug addiction or abuse, you should be familiar with the requirements of OAC 4731-16. http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/4731-16

As always, if you have any questions about this post or about the State Medical Board of Ohio in general, please feel free to contact one of the attorneys at the Collis Law Group LLC at 614-486-3909 or email me at beth@collislaw.com.

State Medical Board of Ohio

State Medical Board of Ohio Monthly Disciplinary Meeting: No Holds Barred!

On the second Wednesday of each month, the State Medical Board of Ohio holds its monthly Board meeting. At these public meetings, the Medical Board reviews and determines all matters related to scope of practice, licensure and discipline.  Yesterday, I attended the Board’s October Board meeting.

In many respects, the October meeting was no different from other meetings. The Board members reviewed the scope of practice for Physician’s Assistants, ruled on licensure applications, and most importantly for the clients that our firm represent, the Medical Board made final determinations in disciplinary matters.

I was struck by the level of detail and care that each Board member took in reviewing the disciplinary matters. I am always appreciative to learn that the Board Members have read the Report and Recommendation of the disciplinary hearings, reviewed all the exhibits, and carefully consider each case.

It is also refreshing to see Board Members challenge each other and actively deliberate before issuing a discipline. The Board Members do not hold back in their questions, concerns or comments while deliberating the sanction that should be imposed in a given case. They also do not simply “rubber stamp” the recommendation of the hearing examiner in a disciplinary case.

Many believe that all deliberations of Board Members should be behind closed doors. I disagree. If a licensee is subject to discipline by the Medical Board, the licensee should be provided with the opportunity to present their defense and listen to the questions and concerns of the Board Members before a sanction, if any, is imposed.

The monthly Board meeting minutes are online and can be reviewed by the public. http://med.ohio.gov/ForthePublic/BoardMeetingMinutes.aspx

I highly encourage all licensees to read the monthly Board minutes. The minutes show WHAT types of cases are of concern to the Board and what Discipline is typically imposed. I make it a point to attend every Board meeting and to read the monthly Board minutes.

As always, if you have any questions about the State Medical Board of Ohio or this post, please feel free to contact me at 614-486-3909 or email me at beth@collislaw.com.