§ 5-37-1.3 - Board of medical licensure and discipline – Powers and duties.
SECTION 5-37-1.3
§ 5-37-1.3 Board of medical licensure anddiscipline – Powers and duties. – The board has the following duties and powers:
(1) To adopt, amend, and rescind rules and regulations, withthe approval of the director, necessary to carry out the provisions of thischapter;
(2) To investigate all complaints and charges ofunprofessional conduct against any licensed physician or limited registrant andhold hearings to determine whether those charges are substantiated orunsubstantiated;
(3) To direct the director of the department of health tolicense qualified applicants;
(4) To appoint one or more members of the board to act forthe members of the board in investigating the conduct or competence of anylicensed physician or limited registrant;
(5) To direct the director to revoke or suspend licenses orregistrations, or implement other disciplinary action against persons licensedor registered under this chapter;
(6) To issue subpoenas and administer oaths in connectionwith any investigations, hearing, or disciplinary proceedings held under theauthority of this chapter;
(7) To take or cause depositions to be taken as needed in anyinvestigation, hearing, or proceeding;
(8) To summon and examine witnesses during any investigation,hearing, or proceeding conducted by the board;
(9) To adopt and publish, with the approval of the director,rules of procedure and other regulations in accordance with the AdministrativeProcedure Act, chapter 35 of title 42.
(10) To require a licensee to undergo a physical orpsychiatric examination by a physician acceptable to the board, from a listprovided to the licensee by the board, if probable cause exists to believe thatallegations of misconduct against a licensee are caused by an impairment whichhas directly affected the ability of the licensee to conduct his or herpractice professionally.
(ii) The investigating committee and the board may notdiscriminate on the basis of disability in the administration of the licensingprogram, nor subject qualified individuals with disabilities to anydiscrimination on the basis of disability in its complaint procedure. Alldecisions of the investigating committee and the board shall be based on theallegation of unprofessional conduct and not due to probable cause of theconduct being related to the disability of the licensee.
(11) To advise the licensee of the availability of thephysicians health committee of the Rhode Island Medical Society, and inappropriate instances, to refer licensees to that committee for evaluation byappropriate medical professionals.