§34-24-52. Proceedings to restrain unlawful practice.

The State Board of Medical Examiners, in addition to the powers and duties expressed in this article with respect to the denial of the certificate of qualification to practice medicine or suspension or revocation of a certificate of qualification to practice medicine, shall have the power to commence and maintain in any circuit court having jurisdiction of any person within this state who is practicing medicine without a certificate of qualification or to whom a certificate of qualification has been denied, or whose certificate of qualification has been suspended or revoked by the action of the board, an action in the nature of quo warranto as provided for in Section 6-6-590 et seq., as the same is now or may hereafter be amended, to order such person from continuing to practice medicine or osteopathy within the State of Alabama, and jurisdiction is conferred upon the circuit courts of this state to hear and determine all such cases. The board may commence and maintain such action without the filing of a bond or security without the order or direction of a circuit judge. Nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring criminal jurisdiction upon any court not now possessing such criminal jurisdiction, nor shall such court, as an incident to the action in the nature of quo warranto herein authorized, have the power to assess the criminal penalties heretofore set out. An injunction shall be issued upon proof that the person or persons is now or has in the past engaged in the unlawful practice of medicine or osteopathy without requiring proof of actual damage sustained by any person. If such injunction is issued, the injunction shall not relieve any person, corporation, or association, nor the officers or directors thereof, from criminal prosecution for the unlawful practice of medicine.

(Code 1876, §4244; Code 1886, §4078; Code 1896, §5333; Code 1907, §7564; Acts 1915, No. 623, p. 661; Code 1923, §5191; Code 1940, T. 46, §262; Acts 1959, No. 109, p. 620, §3; Acts 1973, No. 1120, p. 1882, §1; Acts 1975, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 161, p. 405, §2.)