Section 4731.36 | Exceptions.

• Effective: March 20, 2025
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 154 - 135th General Assembly

(A) Sections 4731.01 to 4731.47 of the Revised Code shall not prohibit service in case of emergency, domestic administration of family remedies, or provision of assistance to another individual who is self-administering drugs.

Sections 4731.01 to 4731.47 of the Revised Code shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) A commissioned medical officer of the armed forces of the United States or an employee of the veterans administration of the United States or the United States public health service in the discharge of the officer's or employee's professional duties;

(2) A dentist authorized under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code to practice dentistry when engaged exclusively in the practice of dentistry or when administering anesthetics in the practice of dentistry;

(3) A physician or surgeon in another state or territory who is a legal practitioner of medicine or surgery therein when providing consultation to an individual holding a license to practice issued under this chapter who has an established physician-patient relationship with the patient who is the subject of the consultation, if one of the following applies:

(a) The physician or surgeon does not provide consultation in this state on a regular or frequent basis.

(b) The physician or surgeon provides the consultation without compensation of any kind, direct or indirect, for the consultation.

(c) The consultation is part of the curriculum of a medical school or osteopathic medical school of this state or a program described in division (A)(2) of section 4731.291 of the Revised Code.

(4) A physician or surgeon in another state or territory who is a legal practitioner of medicine or surgery therein and provided services to a patient in that state or territory, when providing, not later than one year after the last date services were provided in another state or territory, follow-up services in person or through the use of any communication, including oral, written, or electronic communication, in this state to the patient for the same condition;

(5) A physician or surgeon residing on the border of a contiguous state and authorized under the laws thereof to practice medicine and surgery therein, whose practice extends within the limits of this state. Such practitioner shall not either in person or through the use of any communication, including oral, written, or electronic communication, open an office or appoint a place to see patients or receive calls within the limits of this state.

(6) A board, committee, or corporation engaged in the conduct described in division (A) of section 2305.251 of the Revised Code when acting within the scope of the functions of the board, committee, or corporation;

(7) The conduct of an independent review organization accredited by the superintendent of insurance under section 3922.13 of the Revised Code for the purpose of external reviews conducted under Chapter 3922. of the Revised Code.

As used in division (A)(1) of this section, "armed forces of the United States" has the same meaning as in section 5907.01 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Subject to division (B)(2) of this section, this chapter does not apply to a person who holds a current, unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in another state when the person, pursuant to a written agreement with an athletic team located in the state in which the person holds the license, provides medical services to any of the following while the team is traveling to or from or participating in a sporting event in this state:

(a) A member of the athletic team;

(b) A member of the athletic team's coaching, communications, equipment, or sports medicine staff;

(c) A member of a band or cheerleading squad accompanying the athletic team;

(d) The athletic team's mascot.

(2) In providing medical services pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, the person shall not provide medical services at a health care facility, including a hospital, an ambulatory surgical facility, or any other facility in which medical care, diagnosis, or treatment is provided on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

(C) Sections 4731.51 to 4731.61 of the Revised Code do not apply to any graduate of a podiatric school or college while performing those acts that may be prescribed by or incidental to participation in an accredited podiatric internship, residency, or fellowship program situated in this state approved by the state medical board.

(D) This chapter does not apply to an individual engaged in the practice of oriental medicine, or to an acupuncturist who complies with Chapter 4762. of the Revised Code.

(E) This chapter does not prohibit the administration of drugs by any of the following:

(1) An individual who is licensed or otherwise specifically authorized by the Revised Code to administer drugs;

(2) An individual who is not licensed or otherwise specifically authorized by the Revised Code to administer drugs, but is acting pursuant to the rules for delegation of medical tasks adopted under section 4731.053 of the Revised Code;

(3) An individual specifically authorized to administer drugs pursuant to a rule adopted under the Revised Code that is in effect on April 10, 2001, as long as the rule remains in effect, specifically authorizing an individual to administer drugs.

(F) The exemptions described in divisions (A)(3), (4), and (5) of this section do not apply to a physician or surgeon whose license to practice issued under this chapter is under suspension or has been revoked or permanently revoked by action of the state medical board.

Last updated January 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM

Available Versions of this Section

• September 16, 2014 – House Bill 488 - 130th General Assembly
• September 29, 2017 – Amended by House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly
• April 12, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 442 - 133rd General Assembly
• September 23, 2022 – Amended by House Bill 193 - 134th General Assembly
• March 20, 2025 – Amended by Senate Bill 154 - 135th General Assembly