The Lento Law Firm Defends Oklahoma Pharmacists
The Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy declares its intent to “protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Oklahoma” through its regulation of pharmacy practice. Public protection is the State Board of Pharmacy's number one goal. That's why you face State Board of Pharmacy disciplinary charges. But charges are not the same as a finding of wrong. The State Board of Pharmacy may just need your convincing explanation for allegations that have come to its attention. Retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team to help you defend and defeat Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy misconduct charges. Call 888.535.3686 or chat with us now for the effective representation you need for your best outcome to misconduct charges.
Oklahoma Pharmacy Practice Rewards
Pharmacy practice in Oklahoma doubtless has its advantages and charms. The state's natural beauty, friendly population, and sophisticated healthcare system all contribute to offering pharmacists abundant and financially rewarding practice opportunities in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Lawton, Moore, Midwest City, Enid, Stillwater, Owasso, Bartlesville, Muskogee, Shawnee, Bixby, and other fine cities. You may have already built a steady, secure, and financially rewarding pharmacy practice, or you may just be beginning a pharmacy career that you expect to be rewarding. Whatever your situation, let us help you keep those hopes and dreams for a rewarding career alive. Retain our attorneys to defend your disciplinary charges.
Nationwide Stakes to Oklahoma Pharmacist Discipline
Oklahoma Administrative Code Section 535:10-7-6 carries out the Oklahoma legislature's statutory authority to license pharmacists reciprocally with other states. Reciprocal licensure means that a license in one state can get you a license in another state, a boon to moving your pharmacy practice from state to state. However, reciprocal licensure also means that discipline in one state can cause you to lose the ability to license by reciprocity in another state. If you suffer license discipline in Oklahoma, you may not be able to get a license in any other state. And if you already hold a pharmacy license in another state, you may lose that license because of your Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy discipline. Don't run the risk of losing your pharmacy practice across the nation. Let us help you defend and defeat your Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy misconduct charges.
Oklahoma Pharmacist Licensure
Oklahoma's legislature enacted the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act to authorize the State Board of Pharmacy to license professionals who intend to practice pharmacy in the state. Oklahoma Code Section 353.7 authorizes the State Board of Pharmacy to license professionals for pharmacy practice in the state. Oklahoma Code Section 353.18 prohibits any person from dispensing drugs in the state without a State Board of Pharmacy license. Oklahoma Code Section 353.17 prohibits any person from using any pharmacy title or other word associated with the distribution of drugs unless the State Board of Pharmacy has issued the person a license to do so. Impersonating a pharmacist without a State Board of Pharmacy license is a felony crime. Oklahoma Code Section 353.25 makes it a misdemeanor crime to violate any other provision of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act, including practicing without a license. You must not practice your pharmacy profession in Oklahoma without a license in good standing. Let us help you hold onto your license.
Oklahoma Pharmacist Qualifications
Qualifying for a pharmacy license from the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy isn't quick, easy, or inexpensive. Oklahoma Code Section 353.9 sets forth the education, examination, internship, and good character requirements you met for your pharmacy license. You worked hard for your pharmacy education, to pass the pharmacy examination, and to complete the required work experience. You also made a substantial financial investment and devoted substantial time forgoing other opportunities. With an Oklahoma pharmacy license, your proverbial eggs are in the pharmacy basket after your substantial investment in qualifying for an Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy license. Protect your investment. Retain our highly skilled and experienced attorneys for your license defense.
Oklahoma Pharmacist Disciplinary Authority
When the Oklahoma legislature granted the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy the power to license pharmacists in the state, the legislature also granted the State Board of Pharmacy the power to discipline those pharmacy licenses. Oklahoma Code Section 353.7 expressly authorizes the State Board to suspend, revoke, limit, or otherwise condition or restrict the license of a pharmacist who violates the State Board's rules. When you face State Board of Pharmacy disciplinary charges, you face an Oklahoma state executive agency authorized and staffed to pursue those charges to a determined sanction. Take those charges seriously. Level your playing field with the services of our highly effective attorneys.
Oklahoma Pharmacist Disciplinary Decisions
Don't expect to hide your Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy discipline if it occurs. If the State Board disciplines you, it will likely notify your pharmacy employer. If the State Board does not do so, then you will likely have to do so on your own as a condition of your employment. The State Board may also notify other licensing boards with which you hold a pharmacy or other healthcare license. Even if the State Board does not do so, you will likely have that obligation of giving notice, if not immediately, on your discipline when completing a renewal application requiring disclosure of discipline. Your pharmacy colleagues, other healthcare professionals with whom you regularly deal, and even family members and friends are likely soon to learn of your professional discipline. Instead of expecting to conceal your discipline, let us help you avoid it.
Oklahoma Pharmacist Disciplinary Sanctions
Oklahoma Code Section 353.7 authorizes a wide range of forms of disciplinary sanctions, giving our attorneys an opportunity to advocate on your behalf for remedial rather than punitive sanctions if the State Board of Pharmacy finds misconduct. Short of license suspension or revocation or a fine of up to $3,000 per violation, the statute alternatively authorizes reprimand or probation. The State Board may also set terms or conditions around license probation. The above statute states expressly that “The Board also may take other disciplinary action.” This broad discretion opens opportunities to advocate that you retain your license. We may, for instance, be able to help you arrange remedial education or training, medical examination and treatment, or mental health counseling, even before the State Board considers any sanction. Those affirmative steps may show the State Board that you deserve leniency and that the public faces no risk from your continued licensure.
Oklahoma Pharmacy License Reinstatement
The Oklahoma Pharmacy Act limits license reinstatement. Oklahoma Administrative Code Section 535:10-7-10 indicates that while reinstatement from a permanently revoked license is not possible, reinstatement of a license held not to be current on other grounds may be possible. If you have already lost your Oklahoma pharmacy license to disciplinary charges on suspension, voluntary relinquishment, or probation, let us help you determine whether you qualify for license reinstatement. If so, then we can help you make the required reinstatement application with convincing arguments and documentation and conduct the required hearing for reinstatement.
Grounds for Oklahoma Pharmacy Discipline
Various provisions of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act authorize different grounds for State Board of Pharmacy discipline. Your State Board disciplinary charges should specify the statutory or regulatory grounds. If not, then we can help you seek a detailing and specification of the charges, as part of your constitutional right to due process. Consider the following common grounds and how our skilled and experienced attorneys may be able to advocate for your defense of those charges.
Incapacity as Grounds for Oklahoma Pharmacist Discipline
Oklahoma Code Section 353.16a authorizes discipline on grounds of incapacity, provided that the incapacity is “of a nature that prevents such pharmacist from engaging in the practice of pharmacy with reasonable skill, competence and safety to the public.” Incapacity may involve a physical condition that prevents standing, sitting, moving about, keyboarding, or the other fine or gross motor skills required of a pharmacist. Incapacity may alternatively involve mental conditions such as severe depression, head injury, or mental illness interfering with cognition or memory. Incapacity may alternatively involve infectious or debilitating diseases that prevent safe workplace participation. If you face incapacity charges, we may be able to help you show that you are not incapacitated, that your employer can and should accommodate any incapacity under the ADA, or that your incapacity was temporary, placed no client or patient at any risk, and is no longer present or a future risk because of your treatment or healing.
Impairment as Grounds for Oklahoma Pharmacist Discipline
Impairment due to alcohol or drugs is another potential ground for discipline under the Oklahoma Code Section 353.26.A.4. Oklahoma Code Section 353.7 provides that the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy has the authority to offer an impaired pharmacist an alternative to discipline program. The State Board of Pharmacy has approved the Oklahoma Pharmacists Helping Pharmacists (OPHP) private non-profit program as a partner provider of that alternative to discipline program. You may have State Board disciplinary officials, OPHP officials, your employer, your colleagues, or others urge you to participate or demand that you participate in the OPHP program. Beware of such offers or demands. The program may impose such onerous terms and conditions, including terms and conditions from which you do not benefit, that you will be unable or unwilling to complete the program. Discipline could result from program withdrawal or failure, even if you do not have an impairing dependency or addiction issue. Let us help you evaluate OPHP or other alternative to discipline programs.
Unprofessionalism as Grounds for Oklahoma Pharmacist Discipline
Oklahoma Code Section 353.26.A.5 authorizes State Board discipline for unprofessional conduct “likely to lower public esteem for the profession of pharmacy.” Unprofessionalism could include rude behavior toward clients, patients, colleagues, or employer representatives, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress, or harassment, intimidation, threats, or violence in the workplace or outside the workplace in a way that indicates professional risks. We may be able to help you defend unprofessionalism charges by showing that you did not commit the alleged misconduct, others misidentified you or misunderstood your actions, or that the conduct was not so extreme, repeated, severe, or concerning to qualify as a disciplinary offense.
Felony Conviction as Grounds for Oklahoma Pharmacist Discipline
Oklahoma Code Section 353.26.A.3 authorizes State Board discipline for a felony conviction. If you face such charges, we may be able to show that you did not suffer a felony conviction, that a court reversed your conviction, that the governor pardoned your conviction, or that the conviction was not a felony.
Oklahoma Pharmacist Disciplinary Procedures
The Oklahoma Pharmacy Act promises you constitutional due process when facing disciplinary charges that could lead to the loss of your license. Oklahoma Code Section 353.26 includes your due process rights to fair notice of the charges and a formal hearing before an impartial State Board decision maker at which we can help you present your exonerating and mitigating evidence. If you have already lost your disciplinary hearing, we can help you invoke your right under the same statute to appeal the penalty under the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act. If you have already lost your appeal, we may be able to obtain a court review and reversal of the discipline. Let us invoke your procedural protections for your best disciplinary outcome.
Premier Oklahoma Pharmacist Defense Services
The Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team is available across Oklahoma, including in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman, Broken Arrow, Edmond, Lawton, Moore, Midwest City, Enid, Stillwater, Owasso, Bartlesville, Muskogee, Shawnee, Bixby, and other cities and towns, to defend your pharmacy license. Hundreds of pharmacists and other professionals have trusted us for their successful defense. Call 888.535.3686 or chat with us now.
