Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2628%20intr.htm&yr=2017&sesstype=RS&i=2628
Timestamp: 2018-03-23 16:43:45
Document Index: 386845878

Matched Legal Cases: ['§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30', '§30']

HB 2628 Text
Introduced Version House Bill 2628 History
House Bill 2628
By Delegates Howell, Hamrick, Summers, Ellington, Arvon, Rohrbach, Shott, Miller, C., Storch, Lewis and Maynard
A BILL to amend and reenact §30-3-12 and §30-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §30-14-11 and §30-14-12a of said code, all relating generally to the powers and duties of the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine with regard to evidence of serious misconduct of individuals subject to the boards’ jurisdiction; authorizing the Board of Medicine to deny a license to any applicant who has been convicted of a felony; requiring the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to revoke a license when an osteopathic physician or physician’s assistant is convicted of a felony involving prescription drugs; authorizing the Board of Medicine to order a permanent revocation of license when warranted by evidence; specifying additional disciplinary and restorative powers for the Board of Osteopathic Medicine; clarifying that these boards may impose disciplinary sanctions when license knowingly fails to report the gross misconduct of another licensee; and requiring the boards to refer information to law enforcement and prosecuting authorities when a board has reason to believe a crime has occurred.
That §30-3-12 and §30-3-14 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that §30-14-11 and §30-14-12a of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
Upon a determination of the board that there is probable cause to believe that any person, partnership, corporation, association, insurance company, professional society or other organization has failed or refused to make a report required by this subsection, the board shall provide written notice to the alleged violator stating the nature of the alleged violation and the time and place at which the alleged violator shall appear to show good cause why a civil penalty should not be imposed. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. After reviewing the record of the hearing, if the board determines that a violation of this subsection has occurred, the board shall assess a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 against the violator. The board shall notify any person so assessed of the assessment in writing and the notice shall specify the reasons for the assessment. If the violator fails to pay the amount of the assessment to the board within thirty days, the Attorney General may institute a civil action in the circuit court of Kanawha County to recover the amount of the assessment. In any civil action, the court's review of the board's action shall be conducted in accordance with section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, when there are conflicting views by recognized experts as to whether any alleged conduct breaches an applicable standard of care, the evidence must be clear and convincing before the board may find that the physician or podiatrist has demonstrated a lack of professional competence to practice with a reasonable degree of skill and safety for patients.
(13) Prescribing, dispensing, administering, mixing or otherwise preparing a prescription drug, including any controlled substance under state or federal law, other than in good faith and in a therapeutic manner in accordance with accepted medical standards and in the course of the physician's or podiatrist's professional practice. A physician who discharges his or her professional obligation to relieve the pain and suffering and promote the dignity and autonomy of dying patients in his or her care and, in so doing, exceeds the average dosage of a pain relieving controlled substance, as defined in Schedules II and III of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, does not violate this article;
(4) Revoke his or her license or other authorization to practice medicine and surgery or podiatry or to prescribe or dispense controlled substances for a period not to exceed ten years any period of time, including for the life of the licensee, that the board may find to be reasonable and necessary according to evidence presented in a hearing before the board or its designee;
(k) Notwithstanding the provisions of section eight, article one of this chapter, if the board determines the evidence in its possession indicates that a physician's or podiatrist's continuation in practice or unrestricted practice constitutes an immediate danger to the public, the board may take any of the actions provided in subsection (j) of this section on a temporary basis and without a hearing if institution of proceedings for a hearing before the board are initiated simultaneously with the temporary action and begin within fifteen days of the action. The board shall render its decision within five days of the conclusion of a hearing under this subsection.
(a) The board may either refuse to issue or may suspend or revoke any license and may fine a licensee and may order restitution or rehabilitative action by a licensee for any one or more of the following causes:
(1) Conviction of a felony, as shown by a certified copy of the record of the trial court: Provided, That when the conviction is for an offense that involves the transfer, delivery or illicit possession of prescription drugs, the board shall revoke or refuse to issue the license of the convicted physician or physician’s assistant for a period of time until the physician or physician assistant demonstrates a record of rehabilitation and that he or she has the integrity, moral character and professional competence to practice in this state;
(8) Habitual drunkenness, or habitual addiction to the use of morphine, cocaine or other habit-forming drugs; and
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to clarify and strengthen the duties and powers of the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine with regard to evidence of serious misconduct by licensees and applicants for license under their respective jurisdictions.