Opinion ID: 2542903
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Nguyen majority applied faulty logic.

Text: ¶ 37 The Nguyen majority stated the following: [S]ociety . . . has the important dual interests that (1) Dr. Nguyen's standard of practice not fall below the acceptable minimum and (2) he not be erroneously deprived his license, as that would erroneously deprive the public access to and benefit from his services. Here each interest dictates a more exacting burden than mere preponderance. 144 Wash.2d at 526, 29 P.3d 689. The Nguyen majority's contention that ensuring a minimum level of a physician's standard of care dictates a higher standard than the preponderance of evidence standard is nonsensical. Logic dictates that a heightened standard of proof will make it more difficult, not less difficult, for the State to properly discipline incompetent professionals. Apparently, the majority in the present case agrees with this point, as it eschews the Nguyen argument and instead chooses to cite the reasoning from Nims v. Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors, 113 Wash.App. 499, 53 P.3d 52 (2002). Majority at 1034. The majority, relying on Nims, admits the absurdity of the reasoning employed in Nguyen, stating, it makes no sense to say that doctors who present the ` greater risk [] should receive the benefits of a higher . . . burden of persuasion' to prompt discipline than a lower-risk vocation. Id. (quoting Nims, 113 Wash.App. at 505, 53 P.3d 52). Thus, the majority affirms Nguyen while acknowledging that the logic used in that decision was faulty. ¶ 38 For the reasons stated above, the Nguyen decision is incorrect and harmful. Thus, Nguyen should be overruled. ¶ 39 Procedural Due Process. After overruling Nguyen, I would apply the Mathews test in order to determine the constitutionally required standard of proof in registered nursing assistant disciplinary proceedings. After balancing the private interests at stake, the risk of erroneous deprivation, and the governmental interests and burdens, I would hold that the preponderance standard is constitutionally sufficient.