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(a)After referral of an investigation to the agency's legal division, the Hearings Coordinator of the board shall schedule an ISC before an ISC Panel, composed of two or more board representatives to be held after proper notice to the licensee. One board representative must be a public member. If the matter is before the Medical Board, at least one board representative must be a physician member. (b)Requests to reschedule the ISC by a licensee must be in writing and shall be referred to the Hearings Counsel for consideration. To avoid undue disruption of the ISC schedule, the Hearings Counsel should grant a request only after conferring with the Hearings Coordinator and consideration of the following guidelines: (1)A request to reschedule an ISC that is received by the agency: (A)within five business days after the licensee receives notice of the date of the ISC should be granted if the request states a reasonable basis, the licensee has taken steps to meet the original schedule, and the licensee's conflict cannot reasonably be avoided. (B)more than five business days after the licensee receives notice of the date of the ISC and more than 30 days before the scheduled date for the ISC should be granted only if: (i)a request by the licensee to reschedule the ISC has not previously been granted; (ii)a reasonable basis is stated; (iii)there would be hardship to the licensee if a request is not granted; (iv)the nature of the allegations does not present a continuing threat to the public welfare; and (v)rescheduling can be accommodated without significant disruption of the ISC schedule. (C)within 30 days before the scheduled date for the ISC should not be granted unless paragraphs (2) or (3) of this subsection, apply. (2)A request received by the agency at any time because of an extraordinary event or circumstance should be granted, provided the request is received by the agency within a reasonable time after the occurrence of the event or circumstance. (3)A request based on the failure of the agency to send notice at least 30 days before the date of the ISC, as required by Section 164.003 of the Act, shall be granted, provided the request is received by the agency within five business days after the late notice is received by the licensee. (c)Prior to the ISC, the board representatives shall be provided with the information sent to the licensee by the board staff and all information timely received in response from the licensee. Information must be received from the licensee at least five business days prior to the ISC. (d)An ISC may be conducted by only one panelist if: (1)the ISC is related to an order of the board, such as to show compliance, a probation appearance, or a request for termination or modification, or (2)the affected licensee waives the requirement that at least two panelists conduct the ISC. In such situations, the panelist may be either a physician, physician assistant, or acupuncturist (depending on the licensee involved) or a member who represents the public. (e)The board representatives shall allow: (1)the board staff to present a summary of the allegations and the facts that the board staff reasonably believes could be proven by competent evidence at a formal hearing; (2)the licensee to reply to the board staff's presentation and present facts the licensee reasonably believes could be proven by competent evidence at a formal hearing; (3)presentation of evidence by the board staff and the licensee, which may include medical and office records, x-rays, pictures, film recordings of all kinds, audio and video recordings, diagrams, charts, drawings, and any other illustrative or explanatory materials which in the discretion of the board representatives are relevant to the proceeding; (4)representation of the licensee by an authorized representative; (5)presentation of oral or written statements by the licensee or authorized representative; (6)presentation of oral or written statements or testimony by witnesses; (7)questioning of the witnesses in a manner prescribed by the panel; (8)questioning of the licensee; (9)closing statement by the licensee; (10)closing statement by the board's staff; and (11)upon request by board representatives, the board staff may propose appropriate disciplinary action and the licensee or authorized representative may respond. (f)The board representatives, board staff, the licensee, and the licensee's authorized representative shall be present during the presentation of statements and testimony during the ISC. (g)Notwithstanding subsection (f) of this section, the board representatives may allow a witness to testify outside the physical presence of the licensee to protect the person from harassment and/or undue embarrassment, for personal safety concerns, or for any other demonstrated and legitimate need. If such testimony is allowed, arrangements will be made to allow the licensee to listen to the testimony contemporaneously as it is given. (h)All evidence that a licensee wishes the board representatives to consider at the ISC must be received by to the board at least five business days before the ISC. The board representatives may refuse to consider any evidence not submitted in a timely manner without good cause. If the board representatives allow the licensee to submit late evidence, the representatives may reschedule and/or recommend an additional administrative penalty for the late submission. (i)A board attorney, who has not been involved with the preparation of the case, shall be designated as the Hearings Counsel and shall be present during the ISC and the panel's deliberations to advise the panel on legal issues that arise during the ISC. The Hearings Counsel shall be permitted to ask questions of participants in the ISC to clarify any statement made by the participant. The Hearings Counsel shall provide to the ISC panel a historical perspective on comparable cases that have appeared before the board, keep the proceedings focused on the case being discussed, and ensure that the board's employees and the licensee have an opportunity to present information related to the case. (j)At the ISC, the board representatives shall attempt to resolve disputed matters and the representatives may call upon the board staff at any time for assistance in conducting the ISC. (k)The board representatives shall prohibit or limit access to the board's investigative file by the licensee, the licensee's authorized representative, the complainant(s), witnesses, and the public consistent with Act, §164.007(c). (l)Although the participants may make notes, mechanical or electronic recordings shall not be made of the ISC, settlement discussions, or mediation efforts. (m)The ISC shall be informal and shall not follow the procedures established under this title for formal board proceedings. (n)At the conclusion of the presentations, the board representatives shall deliberate in order to make recommendations for the disposition of the complaint or allegations. An employee of the board who participated in the presentation of the allegation or information gathered in the investigation of the complaint, the affected licensee, the licensee's authorized representative, the complainant, the witnesses, and members of the public may not be present during the deliberations. The Hearings Counsel may be present only to advise the panel on legal issues and to provide information on comparable cases that have appeared before the board. (o)The board representatives may: (1)make recommendations to dismiss the complaint or allegations. The dismissal of any matter is without prejudice to additional investigation and/or reconsideration of the matter at any time; (2)make recommendations regarding an agreed order and propose resolution of the issues to the licensee to be reduced to writing and processed in accordance with §187.19 of this title (relating to Resolution by Agreed Order); (3)defer the ISC, pending further investigation; (4)direct that a formal Complaint be filed with SOAH, if the ISC Panel determines that no agreed settlement is likely to be successful; or (5)recommend to the President of the board that a Disciplinary Panel be convened to consider the temporary suspension or restriction of the licensee's license, if the ISC Panel determines that the licensee poses a continuing threat to the public welfare.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed
with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 5, 2006
TRD-200600082 Donald W. Patrick, MD, JD
Executive Director
Texas Medical Board
Effective date: January 25, 2006
Proposal publication date: November 4, 2005
For further information, please call: (512) 305-7016
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