Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca4-12-01227/USCOURTS-ca4-12-01227-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 

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WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE BOARD? (#mission) 

WHAT SERVICE DOES THE BOARD PROVIDE? (#service) 

WHAT KIND OF COMPLAINTS RESULT IN DISCIPLINE? (#complanits) 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BOARD CONDUCTS AN INVESTIGATION? 

(#inves) 

HOW LONG DOES THE COMPLAINT PROCESS TAKE? (#howlong) 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT? 

(#make) 

The Maryland Board of Physicians (the "Board") is an agency of the state with the 

authority to license physicians and other health care providers such as physician 

assistants, radiographers, radiation therapists, radiologist assistants, nuclear 

medicine technologists, respiratory care practitioners, psychiatrist assistants, 

polysomnographic technologists, and athletic trainers to practice in Maryland, and to 

discipline licensees who violate the Maryland Medical Practice Act.

In addition to establishing qualifications for licensure, the Board is responsible for 

investigating complaints against licensees and for taking action against the license 

of those who fail to maintain Maryland's high standards of medical care delivery or 

who break the laws governing licensure. 

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF THE BOARD? (back to top)

(#top) THE BOARD'S MISSION is to protect the health and safety of the citizens of 

Maryland through strong enforcement of licensure standards for physicians and 

allied health providers; and through an effective disciplinary program.

WHAT SERVICE DOES THE BOARD PROVIDE? (back to top)

(#top) The Board provides two principal types of consumer services: 1) information 

on licensing and 2) information about licensees who have been charged or 

sanctioned for violation of the Maryland Medical Practice Act. The Medical Practice 

Act is the statute which outlines the grounds for discipline and gives the Board the 

authority to enforce the statute. 

The Board does not act as a physician referral service. But the Board can answer 

questions about a licensee's credentials and training and can let you know if the 

licensee has been disciplined by the Board.

WHAT KIND OF COMPLAINTS RESULT IN DISCIPLINE? (back to top)

(#top) Patients often become upset about the medical care that they receive when 

they feel that they have been treated rudely or been made to wait too long. Often, 

they feel that they have been overcharged for the quality of the service they have 

received. As the Board reviews complaints, the physician or health care provider 

usually will be informed of a complaint and may be asked to respond to the 

allegation. Often, after hearing from the Board, the physician or health care 

provider and the patient are able to come to a resolution of the matter. A typical 

complaint resolved in this fashion might deal with the prompt release of medical 

records or the cost of copying the record.

The Board takes disciplinary action when an individual violates the Maryland Medical 

Practice Act in a manner determined by the Board to warrant prosecution.

The following are some of the more serious infractions that lead to the Board 

placing restrictions on a licensee or even revoking a license to practice in Maryland.

• Misuse of alcohol or drugs 

• Sexual contact with patients 

• Conviction of a criminal act 

• Prescribing addictive drugs without a bona fide medical indication 

• Accepting money or other consideration in return for patient referrals 

• Practicing without a license or aiding others to do so 

• Providing substandard care 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BOARD CONDUCTS AN INVESTIGATION? (back to 

top)

(#top) The Maryland law provides that the Board is required to show by evidence 

that a licensee has breached the Medical Practice Act. A thorough investigation of 

the facts must precede the Board making a charge against a physician or other 

health care provider. The Board employs full time investigators who gather 

information and present it to the Board members. If the Board has a reasonable 

basis to conclude that a breach of the Maryland Medical Practice Act has occurred, 

charges are then brought against the licensee. The accused individual then has the 

opportunity to defend himself/herself before an administrative law judge in a formal 

administrative hearing. Anyone filing a complaint might be called to testify at the 

hearing. In sensitive cases, the identity of the witness is not publicly released. After 

the hearing, if a violation of the Medical Practice Act has occurred, the Board may 

invoke a penalty against the licensee appropriate to the breach. Retraining, a course 

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in ethics, psychiatric treatment, community service, and other requirements may be 

required in addition to, or in lieu of, license suspension or revocation.

HOW LONG DOES THE COMPLAINT PROCESS TAKE? (back to top)

(#top) Many minor complaints are resolved within a few weeks in an informal 

manner. When a full investigation results in the Board bringing formal charges, the 

process takes longer. Cases involving standards of quality care go through a peer 

review in which other physicians examine the quality of care provided and issue an 

opinion. Because the Board provides due process to the licensees, the disciplinary 

process takes a long time. Still, almost all of the Board's cases are resolved within 

18 months and most are resolved sooner.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT? (back to top)

(#top) Contact the Board and request a complaint form 

(../forms/COMPLAIN.pdf) . The Board investigates ALL complaints it receives to 

determine whether the licensee is fulfilling his/her obligations under the Medical 

Practice Act. If there is a breach, the Board has the authority to take action against 

the license of the health care provider. These actions could be as minor as a letter 

of concern informing the licensee of the Board's attitude regarding a specific health 

delivery problem, or as serious as a revocation of a license if there has been a 

serious breach of the law. The Board also has authority to reprimand, suspend the 

license to practice, or assess fines up to $50,000.

The Board does not have the authority to order a physician to make recompense to 

an individual who thinks he/she has been harmed by a physician. This type of 

complaint is pursued by contacting an attorney and initiating a suit in the civil 

justice system. Even if the Board disciplines a licensee, that information is not 

admissible in a civil action, even though the disciplinary action may be based on the 

same facts.

Maryland Board of Physicians

4201 Patterson Avenue

Baltimore, Maryland 21215-0095

410-764-4777 (local) or 1-800-492-6836 (toll free)

Fax: 410-358-2252 

TTD for the Disabled: 1-800-735-2258 

Back to top (#top) 

(http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/) 

 (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/jobs.html) 

How Do I

• File a Complaint (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/cform.html) 

• Look up a Licensee (https://www.mbp.state.md.us/bpqapp/) 

• Physician Renewals (https://www.mbp.state.md.us/mbp_mz_2015/index.aspx) 

• Allied Health Renewals (https://www.mbp.state.md.us/mbp_ah/index.aspx) 

• Request a Verification (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/licensefee_info.htm) 

• Download Forms (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/forms.html) 

• Practitioner Profiles (https://www.mbp.state.md.us/bpqapp/) 

• New Physician Orientation (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/BPQANPO/index.asp) 

• Change My Address | Edit Profile (https://www.mbp.state.md.us/bpqapp/) 

• Obtain Malpractice Information (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/malpractice1.aspx) 

Also of Interest

• Board Membership (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/board.htm) 

• MBP Information (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/info.html) 

• Laws (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/maryland_laws.html) | Regulations (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/regulations.html) | Rulings 

(http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/declaratory.html) 

• Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/faq.html) 

• Educational Videos (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/video.html) 

Featured News

• 8/12/15- Criminal History Background Checks (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/chrc.html) 

• 3/09/15- Mandated CME Requirement (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/overdose.html) 

• 11/21/14- Down Syndrome Diagnosis Information (http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/genetics/SitePages/DownSyndrome.aspx) 

• 9/14/14- Drug Dispensing Permit Information (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/drug_control.html) 

• 8/20/14- Mandated 10-Day Reporting Requirements (http://www.mbp.state.md.us/pages/hosp_disc_hottopics.html) 

• 12/30/13- Maryland's State Designated Health Information Exchange (CRISP) (http://crisphealth.org/CRISP-HIE-SERVICES/PDMP) 

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