Maine bills would increase dental board oversight By DrBicuspid Staff
April 13, 2011 -- Two pieces of legislation proposed in Maine -- LD 955 and LD 555 -- could create a Dental Adjudicatory Panel to conduct adjudicatory hearings for the Board of Dental Examiners and provide for a review of all complaints filed with the Board of Dental Examiners, respectively.
Complaints about the board's dealings with dentists have surfaced in the past year. Currently, dentists in Maine have no recourse for appealing a board decision through the civil court system. LD 955 would provide a degree of recourse. The Dental Adjudicatory Panel would be required to utilize the Maine Rules of Evidence, and existing board members would not be allowed to serve on the panel in proceedings where licensees are appealing a ruling by the board.
LD 955 would also change the way licenses are revoked in the state. Prior to filing a complaint in the district court to suspend or revoke a license, the board would be required to inform the licensee of the reasons for the removal of his or her license. The licensee would then have an opportunity to have an "informal conference" with the board.
LD 555 would create a system whereby a review panel of three board members has the power, with a unanimous vote, to dismiss complaints lacking merit or that are outside of the board's jurisdiction. Other complaints would fall under the jurisdiction of the full board.
The date when the two bills will be voted on has yet to be announced.
Related Reading
Maine dentists allege unfair treatment by dental board, June 29, 2010 Maine dentists cry foul at state board meeting, May 28, 2010
Copyright © 2011 DrBicuspid.com
Last Updated 4/13/2011 4:40:06 PM
Forum Comments
2 comments so far ...
4/14/2011 2:55:53 PM
cerecman |
Here's the rub with the proposed setup in Maine...
the panel of three will likely be comprised of people who belong to the "old boys' club" in the dental community. Word would filter down from the active board members to "hang" the licensee.
Further, the phrase "informal conference" is a misleading title for what actually transpires - at least under the current board members' - and the Asst. AG, I might add - rule. Ispeak from experience. It's nothing but a free for all that is clearly puts the licensee at the mercy of the board members and AAG. There's nothing informal about an Inquisition! |
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5/3/2011 7:46:56 AM
restless |
I agree with cerecman's comments. I'm a former Maine dentist who was "disciplined" unfairly. I had my license revoked because the board was covering up for the fact that one of the seven board members reneged on an agreement with me over office space, leaving me without a facility. So I had a serious business setback caused by a board member, but they disregarded this completely and claimed I'd abandoned a patient. There is no way that an "informal conference" would be fair to a licensee who is being targeted by the board. It truly is like an inquisition rather than an unbiased, fair proceeding. The only decent and just way to reform this corrupt system is to guarantee "due process" for licensees and there needs to be a completely objective ruling based on facts, not bogus claims made by the board and it's self-serving members. |
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