A proceeding for the revocation or suspension of a license to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or osteopathy or to discipline a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or osteopathy shall be substantially in accord with the following procedure:
1. The medical examiners may, upon their own motion or upon verified complaint in writing, and shall, if such complaint is filed by the director of public health, issue an order fixing the time and place for hearing. A written notice of the time and place of the hearing together with a statement of the charges shall be served upon the licensee at least ten days before the hearing in the manner required for the service of notice of the commencement of an ordinary action or by restricted certified mail.
2. If the licensee has left the state, the notice and statement of the charges shall be so served at least twenty days before the date of the hearing, wherever the licensee may be found. If the whereabouts of the licensee is unknown, service may be had by publication as provided in the rules of civil procedure upon filing the affidavit required by said rules. In case the licensee fails to appear, either in person or by counsel at the time and place designated in said notice, the medical examiners shall proceed with the hearing as hereinafter provided.
3. The hearing shall be before a member or members designated by the board or before an administrative law judge appointed by the board. The presiding board member or administrative law judge may issue subpoenas, administer oaths and take or cause depositions to be taken in connection with the hearing. The presiding board member or administrative law judge shall issue subpoenas at the request and on behalf of the licensee. The hearing shall be open to the public.
The compensation of the administrative law judge shall be fixed by the medical examiners. The administrative law judge shall be an attorney vested with full authority of the board to schedule and conduct hearings. The administrative law judge shall prepare and file with the medical examiners the administrative law judge's findings of fact and conclusions of law, together with a complete written transcript of all testimony and evidence introduced at the hearing and all exhibits, pleas, motions, objections and rulings of the administrative law judge.
4. A stenographic record of the proceedings shall be kept. The licensee shall have the opportunity to appear personally and by an attorney, with the right to produce evidence in the licensee's own behalf, to examine and cross-examine witnesses and to examine documentary evidence produced against the licensee.
5. If a person refuses to obey a subpoena issued by the presiding member or administrative law judge or to answer a proper question during the hearing, the presiding member or administrative law judge may invoke the aid of a court of competent jurisdiction or judge of this court in requiring the attendance and testimony of the person and the production of papers. A failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a civil contempt may be punished.
6. Unless the hearing is before the entire board, a transcript of the proceeding, together with exhibits presented, shall be considered by the entire board at the earliest practicable time. The licensee and the licensee's attorney shall have the opportunity to appear personally to present the licensee's position and arguments to the board. The board shall determine the charge or charges upon the merits on the basis of the evidence in the record before it.
7. If a majority of the members of the board vote in favor of finding the licensee guilty of an act or offense specified in section 147.55 or 148.6, the board shall prepare written findings of fact and its decision imposing one or more of the following disciplinary measures:
a. Suspend the licensee's license to practice the profession for a period to be determined by the board.
b. Revoke the licensee's license to practice the profession.
c. Suspend imposition of judgment and penalty or impose the judgment and penalty, but suspend enforcement and place the physician on probation. The probation ordered may be vacated upon noncompliance. The medical examiners may restore and reissue a license to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery or osteopathy, but may impose a disciplinary or corrective measure which it might originally have imposed. A copy of the medical examiners' order, findings of fact, and decision, shall be served on the licensee in the manner of service of an original notice or by certified mail return receipt requested.
8. Judicial review of the board's action may be sought in accordance with the terms of the Iowa administrative procedure Act.
9. The medical examiners' order revoking or suspending a license to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or osteopathy or to discipline a licensee shall remain in force and effect until the appeal is finally determined and disposed of upon its merit.
[C58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 148.7]
88 Acts, ch 1109, § 16; 90 Acts, ch 1086, § 15; 92 Acts, ch 1183, § 16, 17
Referred to in § 150.1, 151.7, 272C.5
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1997
© 1997 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.
Last update: Mon Jan 27 16:05:08 CST 1997
URL: /DOCS/IACODE/1997/148/7.html
jhf