All citations and subpoenas, under the contemplation of this act, shall be served in general accordance with the statutes of the State of Oklahoma then in force applying to the service of such documents, and all provisions of the statutes of the state then in force, relating to citations and subpoenas, are hereby made applicable to the citations and subpoenas herein provided for. The secretary of the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, or the secretary's designee, during the course of an investigation, shall have the power to issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses, the inspection of premises and the production of documents or things, including, but not limited to, pharmacy, medical and hospital records. Such subpoenas shall carry the same force and effect as if issued as an order from a district court of competent jurisdiction. Patient confidentiality shall be maintained by the Board and subpoena compliance shall not be considered a violation of any state or federal confidentiality laws. All the provisions of the statutes of the state, then in force, governing the taking of testimony by depositions, are made applicable to the taking of depositions under this act. The attendance of witnesses shall be compelled in such hearings by subpoenas issued by the secretary of the Board over the seal thereof, and the secretary shall in no case refuse to issue such subpoenas upon praecipe filed therefor accompanied with the fee of Five Dollars ($5.00) for each subpoena issued. If any person refuse to obey such subpoena served upon him in such manner, the fact of such refusal shall be certified by the secretary of the Board, over the seal thereof, to the district court of the county in which such service was had, and the court shall proceed to hear said matter in accordance with the statutes of the state then in force governing contempt as for disobedience of its own process.
Added by Laws 1923, c. 59, p. 109, § 24, emerg. eff. March 31, 1923. Amended by Laws 1987, c. 118, § 24, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 2014, c. 176, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.