Oklahoma Statutes
Title 76. Torts
§76-95. Prerequisite of prima facie showing in silica claims - Medical report - Evidence requirements.

A. No person shall have a silica claim placed on any active trial roster in this state, or brought to trial in this state, or conduct discovery in a silica claim in this state, in the absence of a prima facie showing of impairment as shown by service on each defendant of a report by a physician who is board-certified in pulmonary medicine, internal medicine, oncology, pathology, or occupational medicine at the time of issuing the relevant medical report.

B. In a case alleging silicosis, the medical report must be issued by a physician who is board-certified in pulmonary medicine, internal medicine, occupational medicine, or pathology that:
1. The exposed person has been diagnosed with a silica-related condition; and
2. Confirms that a physician actually treating or who treated the exposed person, or who has or who had a doctor-patient relationship with the exposed person or a medical professional employed by and under the direct supervision and control of such physician:
C. The medical report must set out the details of the exposed person's occupational, exposure, medical, and smoking history, and set forth that there has been a sufficient latency period for the applicable type of silicosis.
D. The medical report must confirm, on the basis of medical examination, chest x-ray and pulmonary function testing, that the exposed person has permanent respiratory impairment:
1. Rated at least Class 2 pursuant to the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment; and
2. Accompanied by:
E. For all other silica-related claims, other than silicosis, the medical report must:
1. Be issued by a physician who is board-certified in pulmonary medicine, internal medicine, occupational medicine, or pathology that:
2. Be accompanied by:
F. All evidence and reports used in presenting the prima facie showing required in this section, including pulmonary function testing and diffusing studies, if any:
1. Must comply with the technical recommendations for examinations, testing procedures, quality assurance, quality controls, and equipment in the AMA's Guidelines to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment and the most current version of the Official Statements of the American Thoracic Society regarding lung function testing, including general considerations for lung function testing, standardization of spirometry, standardization of the measurement of lung volumes, standardization of the single breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung, and interpretive strategies of lung testing in effect at the time of the performance of any examination or test on the exposed person required by this act. Testing performed in a hospital or other medical facility that is fully licensed and accredited by all appropriate regulatory bodies in the state in which the facility is located, is presumed to meet the requirements of this subsection. This presumption may be rebutted by evidence demonstrating that the accreditation or licensing of the hospital or other medical facility has lapsed, or providing specific facts demonstrating that the technical recommendations for examinations, testing procedures, quality assurance, quality control, and equipment have not been followed;
2. Must not be obtained through testing or examinations that violate any applicable law, regulation, licensing requirement, or medical code of practice;
3. Must not be obtained under the condition that the exposed person retains legal services in exchange for the examination, test, or screening;
4. Shall not result in any presumption at trial that the exposed person is impaired by an asbestos- or silica-related condition; and
5. Shall not be conclusive as to the liability of any defendant.
G. The conclusion that a prima facie showing has been made is not admissible at trial.
Added by Laws 2013, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 21, § 7, emerg. eff. Sept. 10, 2013.
NOTE: Text formerly resided under repealed Title 76, § 65, which was derived from Laws 2009, c. 228, § 59, which was held unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the case of Douglas v. Cox Retirement Properties, Inc., 2013 OK 37, 302 P.2d 789 (Okla. 2013).

Structure Oklahoma Statutes