2006 Code of Virginia § 54.1-3215 - Reprimand, revocation and suspension

54.1-3215. Reprimand, revocation and suspension.

The Board may revoke or suspend a license or reprimand the licensee for anyof the following causes:

1. Fraud or deceit in his practice;

2. Conviction of any felony under the laws of the Commonwealth, anotherstate, the District of Columbia or any United States possession or territoryor of any misdemeanor under such laws involving moral turpitude;

3. Conducting his practice in such a manner as to endanger the health andwelfare of his patients or the public;

4. Use of alcohol or drugs to the extent such use renders him unsafe topractice optometry or mental or physical illness rendering him unsafe topractice optometry;

5. Knowingly and willfully employing an unlicensed person to do anything forwhich a license to practice optometry is required;

6. Practicing optometry while suffering from any infectious or contagiousdisease;

7. Neglecting or refusing to display his license and the renewal receipt forthe current year;

8. Obtaining of any fee by fraud or misrepresentation or the practice ofdeception or fraud upon any patient;

9. Advertising which directly or indirectly deceives, misleads or defraudsthe public, claims professional superiority, or offers free optometricalservices or examinations;

10. Employing, procuring, or inducing a person not licensed to practiceoptometry to so practice;

11. Aiding or abetting in the practice of optometry any person not dulylicensed to practice in this Commonwealth;

12. Advertising, practicing or attempting to practice optometry under a nameother than one's own name as set forth on the license;

13. Lending, leasing, renting or in any other manner placing his license atthe disposal or in the service of any person not licensed to practiceoptometry in this Commonwealth;

14. Splitting or dividing a fee with any person or persons other than with alicensed optometrist who is a legal partner or comember of a professionallimited liability company formed to engage in the practice of optometry;

15. Practicing optometry where any officer, employee, or agent of acommercial or mercantile establishment, as defined in subsection C of 54.1-3205, who is not licensed in Virginia to practice optometry or medicinedirectly or indirectly controls, dictates, or influences the professionaljudgment, including but not limited to the level or type of care or servicesrendered, of the licensed optometrist;

16. Violating other standards of conduct as adopted by the Board;

17. Violating, assisting, inducing or cooperating with others in violatingany provisions of law relating to the practice of optometry, including theprovisions of this chapter, or of any regulation of the Board.

(Code 1950, 54-388; 1968, c. 505; 1976, c. 758; 1977, c. 161; 1979, c. 39;1988, c. 765; 1990, c. 307; 1992, c. 574; 1999, c. 937.)