Authority: IC 25-24-1-1

Affected: IC 25-24-1-3

Sec. 1. An optometrist in the conduct of their practice of optometry shall abide by, and comply with, the following standards of professional conduct:

1. (1) An optometrist shall maintain the confidentiality of all knowledge and information regarding a patient, including, but not limited to, the patient's diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, and of all records relating thereto, about which the optometrist may learn or otherwise be informed during the course of, or as a result of, the patient-optometrist relationship. Information about a patient shall be disclosed by an optometrist when required by law or when authorized by the patient or those responsible for the patient's care.
2. (2) An optometrist shall give a truthful, candid, and reasonably complete account of the patient's condition to the patient or those responsible for the patient's care, except where an optometrist reasonably determines that the information is or would be detrimental to the physical or mental health of the patient, or in the case of a minor or incompetent person, except where an optometrist reasonably determines that the information would be detrimental to the physical or mental health of those responsible for the patient's care.
3. (3) An optometrist shall give reasonable written notice to an active patient or those responsible for the patient's care when the optometrist withdraws from a case so that another optometrist may be employed by the patient or those responsible for the patient's care. An optometrist shall not abandon a patient. As used in this section, "active patient" means a person whom the optometrist has examined, cared for, or otherwise consulted with during the two (2) year period prior to retirement, discontinuation of practice of optometry, or leaving or moving from the community.

4. (4) An optometrist who withdraws from a case, except in emergency circumstances, shall, upon written request, make available to a patient all:

   1. (A) records;
   2. (B) test results;
   3. (C) histories;
   4. (D) diagnoses;
   5. (E) files; and
   6. (F) information relating to the patient;
5. which are in the optometrist's custody, possession, or control, or copies of the documents described in clauses (A) through (F).
6. (5) An optometrist shall exercise reasonable care and diligence in the diagnosis and treatment of patients based upon approved scientific principles, methods, treatments, professional theory, and practice.
7. (6) An optometrist shall not represent, advertise, state, or indicate the possession of a degree recognized as the basis for licensure to practice optometry unless the optometrist is actually licensed on the basis of the degree in the state or states in which the optometrist practices.
8. (7) An optometrist shall obtain consultation whenever requested to do so by a patient or those responsible for a patient's care.
9. (8) An optometrist who has personal knowledge based upon a reasonable belief that another optometrist has engaged in illegal, unlawful, incompetent, or fraudulent conduct in the practice of optometry shall promptly report that conduct to the board. Further, an optometrist who has personal knowledge of a person engaged in, or attempting to engage in, the unauthorized practice of optometry shall promptly report that conduct to the board.

(Indiana Optometry Board; 852 IAC 1-12-1; filed May 11, 1987, 9:00 a.m.: 10 IR 1876; readopted filed Jul 10, 2001, 3:00 p.m.: 24 IR 4238; readopted filed Jul 19, 2007, 12:56 p.m.: 20070808-IR-852070059RFA; readopted filed Nov 25, 2013, 9:21 a.m.: 20131225-IR-852130281RFA; readopted filed Nov 26, 2019, 3:44 p.m.: 20191225-IR-852190188RFA; readopted filed Jan 2, 2024, 3:48 p.m.: 20240131-IR-852230760RFA; filed Oct 15, 2024, 2:19 p.m.: 20241113-IR- 852230737FRA)