Oregon Reporting Statute

The information on this page was last updated by Horty, Springer & Mattern on October 20, 2022.

OREGON

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Or. Rev. Stat. tit. 36 §441.820 Restriction or termination of physician’s privileges; immunity

(1) When a health care facility restricts or terminates the privileges of a physician to practice medicine at that facility, it shall promptly report, in writing, to the Oregon Medical Board all the facts and circumstances that resulted in the restriction or termination.

(2) A health care facility which reports or provides information to the Oregon Medical Board under this section and which provides information in good faith shall not be subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.

tit. 52 §677.188 Definitions

As used in ORS 677.190, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) “Fraud or misrepresentation” means the intentional misrepresentation or misstatement of a material fact, concealment of or failure to make known any material fact, or any other means by which misinformation or a false impression knowingly is given.

(2) “Fraudulent claim” means a claim submitted to any patient, insurance or indemnity association, company or individual for the purpose of gaining compensation, which the person making the claim knows to be false.

(3) “Manifestly incurable condition, sickness, disease or injury” means one that is declared to be incurable by competent physicians or by other recognized authority.

(4) “Unprofessional or dishonorable conduct” means conduct unbecoming a person licensed to practice medicine or podiatry, or detrimental to the best interests of the public, and includes:

(a) Any conduct or practice contrary to recognized standards of ethics of the medical or podiatric profession or any conduct or practice which does or might constitute a danger to the health or safety of a patient or the public or any conduct, practice or condition which does or might adversely affect a physician’s ability safely and skillfully to practice medicine or podiatry;

(b) Willful performance of any surgical or medical treatment which is contrary to acceptable medical standards; and

(c) Willful and repeated ordering or performance of unnecessary laboratory tests or radiologic studies; administration of unnecessary treatment; employment of outmoded, unproved or unscientific treatments; failure to obtain consultations when failing to do so is not consistent with the standard of care; or otherwise utilizing medical service for diagnosis or treatment which is or may be considered inappropriate or unnecessary.

§677.190 Grounds for suspending, revoking or refusing to grant license, registration or certification; alternative medicine

The Oregon Medical Board may refuse to grant, or may suspend or revoke a license to practice for any of the following reasons:

(1)(a) Unprofessional or dishonorable conduct.

(b) For purposes of this subsection, the use of an alternative medical treatment shall not by itself constitute unprofessional conduct. For purposes of this paragraph:

(A) “Alternative medical treatment” means:

(i) A treatment that the treating physician, based on the physician’s professional experience, has an objective basis to believe has a reasonable probability for effectiveness in its intended use even if the treatment is outside recognized scientific guidelines, is unproven, is no longer used as a generally recognized or standard treatment or lacks the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration;

(ii) A treatment that is supported for specific usages or outcomes by at least one other physician licensed by the Oregon Medical Board; and

(iii) A treatment that poses no greater risk to a patient than the generally recognized or standard treatment.

(B) “Alternative medical treatment” does not include use by a physician of controlled substances in the treatment of a person for chemical dependency resulting from the use of controlled substances.

(2) Employing any person to solicit patients for the licensee. However, a managed care organization, independent practice association, preferred provider organization or other medical service provider organization may contract for patients on behalf of physicians.

(3) Representing to a patient that a manifestly incurable condition of sickness, disease or injury can be cured.

(4) Obtaining any fee by fraud or misrepresentation.

(5) Willfully or negligently divulging a professional secret without the written consent of the patient.

(6) Conviction of any offense punishable by incarceration in a Department of Corrections institution or in a federal prison, subject to ORS 670.280. A copy of the record of conviction, certified to by the clerk of the court entering the conviction, shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction.

(7) Impairment as defined in ORS 676.303.

(8) Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a license to practice in this state, or in connection with applying for or procuring registration.

(9) Making statements that the licensee knows, or with the exercise of reasonable care should know, are false or misleading, regarding skill or the efficacy or value of the medicine, treatment or remedy prescribed or administered by the licensee or at the direction of the licensee in the treatment of any disease or other condition of the human body or mind.

(10) Impersonating another licensee licensed under this chapter or permitting or allowing any person to use the license.

(11) Aiding or abetting the practice of medicine or podiatry by a person not licensed by the board, when the licensee knows, or with the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the person is not licensed.

(12) Using the name of the licensee under the designation “doctor,” “Dr.,” “D.O.” or “M.D.,” “D.P.M.,” “Acupuncturist,” “P.A.” or any similar designation in any form of advertising that is untruthful or is intended to deceive or mislead the public.

(13) Gross negligence or repeated negligence in the practice of medicine or podiatry.

(14) Incapacity to practice medicine or podiatry. If the board has evidence indicating incapacity, the board may order a licensee to submit to a standardized competency examination. The licensee shall have access to the result of the examination and to the criteria used for grading and evaluating the examination. If the examination is given orally, the licensee shall have the right to have the examination recorded.

(15) Disciplinary action by another state of a license to practice, based upon acts by the licensee similar to acts described in this section. A certified copy of the record of the disciplinary action of the state is conclusive evidence thereof.

(16) Failing to designate the degree appearing on the license under circumstances described in ORS 677.184 (3).

(17) Willfully violating any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted by the board, board order, or failing to comply with a board request pursuant to ORS 677.320.

(18) Failing to report the change of the location of practice of the licensee as required by ORS 677.172.

(19) Imprisonment as provided in ORS 677.225.

(20) Making a fraudulent claim.

(21)(a) Performing psychosurgery.

(b) For purposes of this subsection and ORS 426.385, “psychosurgery” means any operation designed to produce an irreversible lesion or destroy brain tissue for the primary purpose of altering the thoughts, emotions or behavior of a human being. “Psychosurgery” does not include procedures which may produce an irreversible lesion or destroy brain tissues when undertaken to cure well-defined disease states such as brain tumor, epileptic foci and certain chronic pain syndromes.

(22) Refusing an invitation for an informal interview with the board requested under ORS 677.415.

(23) Violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act.1

(24) Prescribing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose, or prescribing controlled substances without following accepted procedures for examination of patients, or prescribing controlled substances without following accepted procedures for record keeping.

(25) Providing written documentation for purposes of ORS 475B.415 without having legitimately diagnosed a debilitating medical condition, as defined in ORS 475B.410, or without having followed accepted procedures for the examination of patients or for keeping records.

(26) Failure by the licensee to report to the board any adverse action taken against the licensee by another licensing jurisdiction or any peer review body, health care institution, professional or medical society or association, governmental agency, law enforcement agency or court for acts or conduct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action as described in this section.

(27) Failure by the licensee to notify the board of the licensee’s voluntary resignation from the staff of a health care institution or voluntary limitation of a licensee’s staff privileges at the institution if that action occurs while the licensee is under investigation by the institution or a committee thereof for any reason related to medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct, physical incapacity or impairment.

§677.415 Investigation of incompetence.

(1) As used in this section:

(a) “Health care facility” means a facility licensed under ORS 441.015 to 441.087.

(b) “Official action” means a restriction, limitation, loss or denial of privileges of a licensee to practice medicine, or any formal action taken against a licensee by a government agency or a health care facility based on a finding of medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct, physical incapacity or impairment.

(2) The Oregon Medical Board on the board’s own motion may investigate any evidence which appears to show that a licensee licensed by the board is or may be medically incompetent or is or may be guilty of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct or is or may be a licensee with a physical incapacity or an impairment as defined in ORS 676.303.

(3) A licensee licensed by the Oregon Medical Board, the Oregon Medical Association, Inc., or any component society thereof, the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon, Inc. or the Oregon Podiatric Medical Association shall report within 10 working days, and any other person may report, to the board any information such licensee, association, society or person may have that appears to show that a licensee is or may be medically incompetent or is or may be guilty of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct or is or may be a licensee with a physical capacity.

(4) A licensee shall self-report within 10 working days any official action taken against the licensee.

(5) A health care facility shall report to the Oregon Medical Board any official action taken against a licensee within 10 business days of the date of the official action.

(6) A licensee’s voluntary withdrawal from the practice of medicine or podiatry, voluntary resignation from the staff of a health care facility or voluntary limitation of the licensee’s staff privileges at such a health care facility shall be promptly reported to the Oregon Medical Board by the health care facility and the licensee if the licensee’s voluntary action occurs while the licensee is under investigation by the health care facility or a committee thereof for any reason related to possible medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct or physical incapacity or impairment as defined in ORS 676.303.

(7)(a) A report made in accordance with subsection (3) of this section shall contain:

(A) The name, title, address and telephone number of the person making the report; and

(B) Information that appears to show that a licensee is or may be medically incompetent, is or may be guilty of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct or is or may be a licensee with a physical incapacity.

(b) The Oregon Medical Board may not require in a report made in accordance with subsection (5) or (6) of this section more than:

(A) The name, title, address and telephone number of the licensee making the report or the name, address and telephone number of the health care facility making the report;

(B) The date of an official action taken against the licensee or the licensee’s voluntary action under subsection (6) of this section; and

(i) The specific restriction, limitation, suspension, loss or denial of the licensee’s medical staff privileges and the effective date or term of the restriction, limitation, suspension, loss or denial; or

(ii) The fact that the licensee has voluntarily withdrawn from the practice of medicine or podiatry, voluntarily resigned from the staff of a health care facility or voluntarily limited the licensee’s privileges at a health care facility and the effective date of the withdrawal, resignation or limitation.

(c) The Oregon Medical Board may not require in a report made in accordance with subsection (4) of this section more than:

(A) The name, title, address and telephone number of the licensee making the report; and

(B) The specific restriction, limitation, suspension, loss or denial of the licensee’s staff privileges and the effective date or term of the restriction, limitation, suspension, loss or denial.

(8) A report made in accordance with this section may not include any data that is privileged under ORS 41.675.

(9) If, in the opinion of the Oregon Medical Board, it appears that information provided to it under this section is or may be true, the board may order an informal interview with the licensee subject to the notice requirement of ORS 677.320.

(10)(a) A health care facility’s failure to report an official action as required under subsection (5) of this section constitutes a violation of this section. The health care facility is subject to a penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation. The Oregon Medical Board may impose the penalty in accordance with ORS 183.745 and, in addition to the penalty, may assess reasonable costs the board incurs in enforcing the requirements of this section against the health care facility if the enforcement results in the imposition of a civil penalty.

(b) The Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the State of Oregon in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to recover a civil penalty and costs assessed under this subsection.

(c) A civil penalty assessed or recovered in accordance with this subsection shall be paid to the State Treasury and the State Treasurer shall credit the amount of the payment to the Primary Care Services Fund established under ORS 442.570.

(11) A person who reports in good faith to the Oregon Medical Board as required by this section is immune from civil liability by reason of making the report.

§677.417 Medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct, licensee impairment.

The Oregon Medical Board shall determine by rule what constitutes medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct, physician incapacity or impairment for the purposes of ORS chapter 677.

§677.425 Confidential information; immunity.

(1) Any information that the Oregon Medical Board obtains pursuant to ORS 677.200, 677.205 or 677.410 to 677.425 is confidential as provided under ORS 676.175.

(2) Any person who reports or provides information to the board under ORS 677.205 and 677.410 to 677.425 and who provides information in good faith shall not be subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.

Or. Admin. R. 847-010-0073 Reporting Requirements

(1) Board licensees and health care facilities must report to the Board as required by ORS 676.150, 677.092, 677.190, and 677.415. These reports include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) A licensee must self-report to the Board:

(A) Any conviction of a misdemeanor or felony or any arrest for a felony crime to the Board within 10 days after the conviction or arrest;

(B) Any adverse action taken by another licensing jurisdiction or any peer review body, health care institution, professional or medical society or association, governmental agency, law enforcement agency or court for acts or conduct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action as described in ORS chapter 677;

(D) A voluntary withdrawal from practice, voluntary resignation from the staff of a health care facility or voluntary limitation of the licensee’s staff privileges at a health care facility if the licensee’s voluntary action occurs while the licensee is under investigation by the health care facility or its committee for any reason related to possible medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct or physical incapacity or impairment.

(b) A licensee who has reasonable cause to believe that another state licensed health care professional has engaged in prohibited or unprofessional conduct must report the conduct within 10 working days to the board responsible for the other professional unless disclosure is prohibited by state or federal laws relating to confidentiality or protection of health information.

(c) A licensee must report within 10 business days to the Board any information that appears to show that a licensee is or may be medically incompetent or is or may be guilty of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct or is or may be a licensee with a physical incapacity.

(d) A health care facility must report to the Board:

(A) Any official action taken against a licensee within 10 business days of the date of the official action; or

(B) A licensee’s voluntary withdrawal from practice, voluntary resignation from the staff of a health care facility or voluntary limitation of the licensee’s staff privileges at a health care facility if the licensee’s voluntary action occurs while the licensee is under investigation by the health care facility or its committee for any reason related to possible medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct or physical incapacity or impairment.

(2) For purposes of the statutes, reporting to the Board means making a report to the Board’s Investigation Unit or the Board’s Executive Director or the Board’s Medical Director. Making a report to the Board’s Health Professionals’ Services Program (HPSP) or HPSP’s Medical Director does not satisfy the duty to report to the Board.

(3) For the purposes of ORS chapters 676 and 677, the terms medical incompetence, unprofessional conduct, and impaired licensee have the following meanings:

(a) Medical Incompetence: A licensee who is medically incompetent is one who is unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill or safety due to lack of knowledge, lack of ability, or impairment. Evidence of medical incompetence shall include:

(A) Gross or repeated acts of negligence involving patient care.

(B) Failure to achieve a passing score or satisfactory rating on a competency examination or program of evaluation when the examination or evaluation is ordered or directed by the Board or a health care facility.

(C) Failure to complete a course or program of remedial education when ordered or directed to do so by the Board or a health care facility, or a medical education or training program.

(b) Unprofessional conduct: Unprofessional conduct includes the behavior described in ORS 677.188(4), defined as conduct which is unbecoming to a person licensed by the Board or detrimental to the best interest of the public, and which includes:

(A)(i) Any conduct or practice contrary to recognized standards of ethics of the medical, podiatric, or acupuncture professions, or

(ii) Any conduct which does or might constitute a danger to the health or safety of a patient or the public, to include a violation of patient boundaries, or

(iii) Any conduct or practice which does or might adversely affect a provider’s ability to safely and skillfully practice medicine, podiatry, or acupuncture; or

(iv) Practicing with a condition that is adversely affecting a provider’s ability to safely and skillfully practice medicine, podiatry, or acupuncture.

(B) Willful performance of any surgical or medical treatment which is contrary to acceptable medical standards.

(C)(i) Willful and repeated ordering or performance of unnecessary laboratory tests or radiologic studies; or

(ii) Administration of unnecessary treatment; or

(iii) Employment of outmoded, unproved, or unscientific treatments, except as allowed in ORS 677.190 (1)(b); or

(iv) Failing to obtain consultations when failing to do so is not consistent with the standard of care; or

(v) Otherwise utilizing medical service for diagnosis or treatment which is or may be considered inappropriate or unnecessary.

(D) Fraud in the performance of, or the billing for, medical procedures.

(E) Repeated instances of disruptive behavior in the health care setting that could adversely affect the delivery of health care to patients.

(F) Sexual misconduct: Licensee sexual misconduct is behavior that exploits the licensee-patient relationship in a sexual way. The behavior is non-diagnostic and non-therapeutic, may be verbal, physical or other behavior, and may include expressions of thoughts and feelings or gestures that are sexual or that reasonably may be construed by a patient as sexual. Sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to:

(i) Sexual violation: Licensee-patient sex, whether or not initiated by the patient, and engaging in any conduct with a patient or the patient’s immediate family that is sexual or may be reasonably interpreted as sexual, including but not limited to:

(I) Sexual intercourse;

(II) Genital to genital contact;

(III) Oral to genital contact;

(IV) Oral to anal contact;

(V) Genital to anal contact;

(VI) Kissing in a romantic or sexual manner;

(VII) Touching breasts, genitals, or any sexualized body part for any purpose other than appropriate examination or treatment, or where the patient has refused or has withdrawn consent;

(VIII) Encouraging the patient to masturbate in the presence of the licensee or masturbation by the licensee while the patient is present; or

(IX) Offering to provide practice-related services, such as medications, in exchange for sexual favors.

(ii) Sexual impropriety: Behavior, gestures, or expressions that are seductive, sexually suggestive, or sexually demeaning to a patient or the patient’s immediate family, to include:

(I) Sexually exploitative behavior, to include taking, transmitting, viewing, or in any way using photos or any other image of a patient, their family or associates for the prurient interest of others.

(II) Intentional viewing in the health care setting of any sexually explicit conduct for prurient interests.

(III) Having any involvement with child pornography, which is defined as any visual depiction of a minor (a child younger than 18) engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

(IV) Sexually explicit communication in person, by mail, by telephone, or by other electronic means, including but not limited to text message, e-mail, video or social media.

(G) Conduct not otherwise allowed by Oregon law which is contrary to or inconsistent with recognized standards of ethics of the medical, podiatric, or acupuncture professions, specifically conduct that is contrary to or inconsistent with:

(i) Any principle, opinion, or provision of the American Medical Association’s 2016 Code of Ethics.

(ii) Ethical standards established by a specialty board as defined in OAR 847-020-0100:

(I) In which the licensee is certified, and

(II) Which were in place at the time the conduct occurred.

(iii) Ethical standards established by the medical college or specialty society:

(I) In which the licensee practices or practiced at the time of the conduct, and

(II) Which were in effect as of April 7, 2022.

(iv) Any provision of the American Osteopathic Association’s 2016 Code of Ethics.

(v) Any provision of the American Podiatric Medical Association’s 2017 Code of Ethics.

(vi) Any provision of the 2008 (reaffirmed in 2013) American Association of Physician Assistants’ Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession.

(vii) Any provision of the Oregon Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s 2008 Code of Ethics.

(viii) Any provision of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s 2016 Code of Ethics.

(H) Intentionally contacting the known complainant or allowing any person authorized to act on behalf of the licensee to contact the known complainant in regard to the complaint or investigation unless and until the licensee has requested a contested case hearing and the Board has authorized the taking of the complainant’s deposition pursuant to ORS 183.425.

(c) Licensee Impairment: A licensee who is impaired is a licensee who is unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill or safety due to factors which include, but are not limited to:

(A) The use of alcohol, drugs, prescribed medication, or other substances while on or off duty which causes impairment when on duty, including taking call or supervising other healthcare professionals, regardless of practice setting.

(B) Mental or emotional illness.

(C) Physical deterioration or long term illness or injury which adversely affects cognition, motor, or perceptive skills.

(4) For the purposes of the reporting requirements of this rule and ORS 677.415, licensees shall be considered to be impaired if they refuse to undergo an evaluation for mental or physical competence or chemical impairment, or if they resign their privileges to avoid such an evaluation, when the evaluation is ordered or directed by a health care facility or by this Board.

(5) For the purposes of the reporting requirements of this rule and ORS 677.415, official action does not include administrative suspensions of seven or fewer calendar days for failure to maintain or complete records. Administrative suspensions described in this section must be reported as an official action when the suspensions occur more than three times in any 12-month period.

(6) A report made by a board licensee or the Oregon Medical Association or other health professional association, to include the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon, Inc, or the Oregon Podiatric Medical Association to the Board under ORS 677.415 shall include the following information:

(a) The name, title, address and telephone number of the person making the report;

(b) The information that appears to show that a licensee is or may be medically incompetent, is or may be guilty of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct or is or may be a licensee with an impairment.

(7) A report made by a health care facility to the Board under ORS 677.415 (5) and (6) shall include:

(a) The name, title, address and telephone number of the health care facility making the report;

(b) The date of an official action taken against the licensee or the licensee’s voluntary action withdrawing from practice, voluntary resignation or voluntary limitation of licensee staff privileges; and

(A) The specific restriction, limitation, suspension, loss or denial of the licensee’s medical staff privileges and the effective date or term of the restriction, limitation, suspension, loss or denial; or

(B) The fact that the licensee has voluntarily withdrawn from the practice of medicine or podiatry, voluntarily resigned from the staff of a health care facility or voluntarily limited the licensee’s privileges at a health care facility and the effective date of the withdrawal, resignation or limitation.

(8) A report made under ORS 677.415 Section 2 may not include any information that is privileged peer review data, see ORS 41.675.

(9) All required reports shall be made in writing.

(10) Any person who reports or provides information in good faith as required by the statutes is immune from civil liability for making the report.