§30-14-9b. Same - Rights and limitations generally; biennial registration; fee; when practice to cease; admissibility and effect of certificate signed by board; penalty.

(a) An osteopathic medical corporation may practice osteopathic medicine and surgery only through individual osteopathic physicians and surgeons duly licensed to practice osteopathic medicine or surgery in the State of West Virginia, but such osteopathic physicians and surgeons may be employees rather than shareholders of such corporation, and nothing herein contained shall be construed to require a license for or other legal authorization of any individual employed by such corporation to perform services for which no license or other legal authorization is otherwise required. Nothing contained in sections five and nine-a and this section of this article is meant or intended to change in any way the rights, duties, privileges, responsibilities and liabilities incident to the osteopathic physician-patient relationship nor is it meant or intended to change in any way the personal character of the osteopathic physician-patient relationship. A corporation holding such certificate of authorization shall register biennially, on or before June 30, on a form prescribed by the board, and shall pay an annual reasonable registration fee, the amount of such reasonable fee to be set by the board rules.

(b) An osteopathic medical corporation holding a certificate of authorization shall cease to engage in the practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery upon being notified by the board that any of its shareholders is no longer a duly licensed osteopathic physician or surgeon, or when any shares of such corporation have been sold or disposed of to a person who is not a duly licensed osteopathic physician or surgeon: Provided, That the personal representative of a deceased shareholder shall have a period, not to exceed twelve months from the date of such shareholder's death, to dispose of such shares; but nothing contained herein shall be construed as affecting the existence of such corporation or its right to continue to operate for all lawful purposes other than the practice of osteopathic medicine and surgery.

(c) No corporation shall practice osteopathic medicine or surgery, or any of its branches, or hold itself out as being capable of doing so, without a certificate from the board; nor shall any corporation practice osteopathic medicine or surgery or any of its branches, or hold itself out as being capable of doing so, after its certificate has been revoked, or if suspended, during the term of such suspension. A certificate signed by the secretary of the board to which is affixed the official seal of the board to the effect that it appears from the records of the board that no such certificate to practice osteopathic medicine or surgery or any of its branches in the state has been issued to any such corporation specified therein or that such certificate has been revoked or suspended shall be admissible in evidence in all courts of this state and shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

(d) Any officer, shareholder or employee of such corporation who participates in a violation of any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not exceeding $1,000.