West Virginia Code Chapter 30. Professions and Occupations § 30-26-13. Refusal to issue, suspension or revocation of license or trainee permit; false and deceptive advertising

(a) The board may refuse to issue or renew, or may suspend or revoke any license or trainee permit for any one, or any combination of the following causes: Violation of a rule or regulation governing the ethical practice of dealing in or fitting of hearing aids promulgated by the board under the authority granted by this article; conviction of a felony, as shown by a certified copy of the record of the court wherein such conviction was had after such conviction has become final; the obtaining of or the attempt to obtain a license, money or any other thing of value, by fraudulent misrepresentation; malpractice; continued practice of dealing in or fitting of hearing aids by a person knowingly having a chronic infectious or contagious disease; habitual drunkenness or addiction to the use of a controlled substance as defined in chapter sixty-a of this code; advertising, practicing or attempting to practice under a name other than one's own; advertising by means of or selling by the use of knowingly false or deceptive statements.

(b) False and deceptive advertisement shall constitute unethical practice and the board, by rules and regulations may regulate and proscribe acts considered by it to be false and deceptive advertisement.

The rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this subsection shall include prohibitions against (1) advertising a particular model or type of hearing aid for sale when purchasers or prospective purchasers responding to the advertisement cannot purchase the advertised model or type, where it is established that the purpose of the advertisement is to obtain prospects for the sale of a different model or type than that advertised, (2) representing that the service or advice of a person licensed to practice medicine will be used or made available in the selection, fitting, adjustment, maintenance or repair of hearing aids when that is not true, or using the words “doctor,” “clinic” or similar words, abbreviations or symbols which tend to connote the medical profession when such use is not accurate, and (3) advertising a manufacturer's product or using a manufacturer's name or trademark which implies a relationship with the manufacturer that does not exist or using the words “audiologist,” “state licensed clinic,” “state registered,” “state certified,” or “state approved” or any other term, abbreviation or symbol when it would falsely give the impression that service is being provided by persons holding a degree in audiology or trained in clinical audiology, or that licensee's service has been recommended by the state when such is not the case.

(c) The refusal to issue or renew a license or trainee permit or the suspension or revocation of a license or trainee permit by the board must have the concurrence of a majority of the members of the board.