Taylor v. State Ex Rel. Rutherford

291 P.2d 1033
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedOctober 28, 1955
Docket36745
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 291 P.2d 1033 (Taylor v. State Ex Rel. Rutherford) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Taylor v. State Ex Rel. Rutherford, 291 P.2d 1033 (Okla. 1955).

Opinion

HALLEY, Justice.

This action was instituted by the State of Oklahoma ex rel. Ross Rutherford, County Attorney of Jackson County, Oklahoma, in the District.Court of that County, seeking a permanent injunction restraining W. B. Taylor from engaging in, offering to engage in, or holding himself out as qualified to engage in the diagnosis or treaty ment -of any human ill as defined in Sections 731.1 to 731.6, 59 O.S.1951, and from using the prefix or abbreviation “Dr.” and the word “physician” before or after his name as provided by Sections 725.1 to 725.3 and Section 702, 59 O.S.1951.

*1035 The injunction as prayed for was granted September 20, 1954, and defendant. has appealed. The parties will be ref erred, to as they appeared in the trial court where the State was plaintiff and W. B. Taylor, defendant.

Plaintiff alleged that the statutes : above cited and commonly referred to as, the “Healing Arts Act” make it unlawful for any person to practice or offer to practice any branch of the healing arts or to engage in or hold himself out as qualified to engage in the diagnosis or treatment of any human ill as therein defined, unless he holds a legal license or certificate issued under the laws of Oklahoma authorizing him to do the things above set out.

It was alleged that W. B. Taylor held no such license or certificate but was engaged in such practice and holding himself out as qualified to do so, and that unless restrained he would continue to engage in the diagnosis and treatment of such human ills in violation of the statutes above referred to, to the irreparable damage or injury of the public and especially persons who may become a patient of the defendant, and that plaintiff is without adequate remedy of law.

Also, that defendant has appended the name or abbreviation “Dr.” in front of his name and used the word “physician” in his advertising, both of which indicate that he was qualified for diagnosis and treatment of the healing arts in violation of Section 2, Title 59, Chapter 16, Session Laws of 1947, and prayed for a permanent injunction and restraining order forbidding the defendant from engaging in or holding himself out as qualified to engage in the diagnosis or treatment of any human ill as de-' fined in the statutes hereinafter quoted and from using the prefix or abbreviation “Dr.” or the word “physician.”

The defendant filed a combined demurrer and motion to dismiss in which he alleged that the County Attorney is not the real party at interest; that the County Attorney has no authority to bring this .action in the name of the State; that the petition fails td state fact's sufficient to entitle plaintiff to injunctive relief; that the acts alleged provide a criminal penalty and that plaintiff has an adequate remedy at law; and that..the statutes above cited are discriminatory and violate Section.2, Article II, of the Constitution of Oklahoma, and the 14th Amendment of the Federal Constitution.

The demurrer apd motion were overruled and defendant filed an answei setting up the same matters urged in his motion and demurrer and in addition alleged that the practice of naturopathy does not come within the above statutory provisions or, that if it does, defendant has complied therewith.

Defendant alleged that Naturopathy is a nationally recognized professional practice; that the Act alleged to have been violated by defendant is a, criminal ■ statute, provides a criminal penalty for its violation, giving the plaintiff an adequate remedy at law and that an injunction denying the defendant the.further practice of his profession would in effect be denying him the right to trial by jury in violation-.of the State and Federal Constitutions.

The pertinent provisions of . 59 O.S.1951 §§ 731.1 to 731.4 are as follows:

§ 731.1 “(a) The word ‘person1, as used in this Act, shall include any individual, or association of individuals or group of individuals.-
“(b) The words ‘human ill’, as used in this Act, shall include any human disease, ailment, deformity, injury or unhealthy or abnormal physical and/or mental condition of any nature.
“(c) The word ‘diagnosis’, as used in this Act, shall include the use professionally of any means for the discovery or determination of any human ill as herein defined, or the cause of any such human ill.
“(d) The word ‘treatment’, as used in this Act, shall include the use of drugs,- surgery, including appliances, manual or mechanical means, or any other means of any nature whatsoever, for the cure, relief, paliation, adjustment or correction of any human ill as defined herein.”
§ 731.2 “Proof that any person appends ■ to his name the word ‘Doctor’, the abbreviation ‘Dr.’, or any other word, abbreviation of designation. *1036 which word, abbreviation or designation, indicate that he is qualified for diagnosis and/or treatment, as herein defined, shall, constitute prima facie evidence that he is holding himself out, within the meaning of this Act, as qualified to engage in such diagnosis and/or treatment. * * * ”
§ 731.3 “No person shall in any manner engage in, offer to engage in, or hold himself out as qualified to engage in the diagnosis and/or treatment of any human ill unless such person is the holder of a legal and unrevoked license or certificate issued under the laws of Oklahoma authorizing -such person to practice the healing art covered by such license and is practicing thereunder in the manner and subject to the limitations provided by the laws 'of the State of Oklahoma for the issuance of such license or certificate for the practice thereunder.” ’ ■
§ 731.4 “Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be 'punished by a fine 'of not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00), nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by- imprisonment in the county jail -for not less than five (5) days, nor more-than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day upon which this Act shall be violated shall .constitute a separ rate offense and be punishable as such.”

Sections 725.1 to 725.3, 59 O.S.1951, are as follows:

§ 725.1 “Every person who writes or prints, or causes to ■ be written or printed, his name (whether or not the word ‘Doctor’, or an abbreviation thereof, is used in connection therewith) in any manner in connection with such- person in any manner engaging in, or in any manner holding himself out as engaging in, any of the branches of the healing art as defined in 59 O.S. 1951 § 702, must append to his name so written or printed in the same size letters as his name appropriate and generally and easily understood words or letters, which clearly show and indicate the branch of the healing art in which he is licensed to practice and is engaged.”
§ 725.2. “The following' six classes of persons who may use the word ‘Doctor’, or an abbreviation thereof, shall have the exclusive right to use (whether or not in connection with the word ‘Doctor’, or any abbreviation thereof) the following designations:
“1.

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291 P.2d 1033, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/taylor-v-state-ex-rel-rutherford-okla-1955.