2013 Maryland Code
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS
§ 14-5C-17 - Denials, reprimands, suspensions, and revocations -- In general

(a) In general. -- Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14-405 of this title, the Board, on the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the Board, may deny a license to any applicant, or a disciplinary panel, on the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum of the disciplinary panel, may reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee:

(1) Fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a license for the applicant, licensee, or for another;

(2) Fraudulently or deceptively uses a license;

(3) Is guilty of unprofessional or immoral conduct in the practice of polysomnography;

(4) Is professionally, physically, or mentally incompetent;

(5) Abandons a patient;

(6) Is habitually intoxicated;

(7) Is addicted to or habitually abuses any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance as defined in § 5-101 of the Criminal Law Article;

(8) Provides professional services while:

(i) Under the influence of alcohol; or

(ii) Using any narcotic or controlled dangerous substance as defined in § 5-101 of the Criminal Law Article or any other drug that is in excess of therapeutic amounts or without valid medical indication;

(9) Promotes the sale of services, drugs, devices, appliances, or goods to a patient so as to exploit the patient for financial gain;

(10) Willfully makes or files a false report or record in the practice of polysomnography;

(11) Willfully fails to file or record any report as required under law, willfully impedes or obstructs the filing or recording of a report, or induces another to fail to file or record a report;

(12) Breaches patient confidentiality;

(13) Pays or agrees to pay any sum or provide any form of remuneration or material benefit to any person for bringing or referring a patient or accepts or agrees to accept any sum or any form of remuneration or material benefit from an individual for bringing or referring a patient;

(14) Knowingly makes a misrepresentation while practicing polysomnography;

(15) Knowingly practices polysomnography with an unauthorized individual or aids an unauthorized individual in the practice of polysomnography;

(16) Knowingly delegates a polysomnographic duty to an unlicensed individual;

(17) Offers, undertakes, or agrees to cure or treat disease by a secret method, treatment, or medicine;

(18) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or is convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or is disciplined by any branch of the United States uniformed services or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board's disciplinary statutes;

(19) Fails to meet appropriate standards for the delivery of polysomnographic services performed in a hospital sleep laboratory or a stand-alone sleep center;

(20) Knowingly submits false statements to collect fees for which services are not provided;

(21) (i) Has been subject to investigation or disciplinary action by a licensing or disciplinary authority or by a court of any state or country for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Board's disciplinary statutes; and

(ii) Has:

1. Surrendered the license, if any, issued by the state or country; or

2. Allowed the license, if any, issued by the state or country to expire or lapse;

(22) Knowingly fails to report suspected child abuse in violation of § 5-704 of the Family Law Article;

(23) Sells, prescribes, gives away, or administers drugs for illegal or illegitimate medical purposes;

(24) Practices or attempts to practice beyond the authorized scope of practice;

(25) Is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or to a crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside;

(26) Refuses, withholds from, denies, or discriminates against an individual with regard to the provision of professional services for which the licensee is licensed and qualified to render because the individual is HIV positive; or

(27) Practices or attempts to practice a polysomnography procedure or uses or attempts to use polysomnography equipment if the applicant or licensee has not received education and training in the performance of the procedure or the use of the equipment.

(b) Hearing. -- Except as otherwise provided in Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article, before the Board or a disciplinary panel takes any action under subsection (a) of this section, it shall give the individual against whom the action is contemplated an opportunity for a hearing before the Board or the disciplinary panel in accordance with the hearing requirements of § 14-405 of this title.

(c) Suspension. --

(1) On the filing of certified docket entries with the Board by the Office of the Attorney General, a disciplinary panel shall order the suspension of a license if the licensee is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere with respect to a crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not any appeal or other proceeding is pending to have the conviction or plea set aside.

(2) After completion of the appellate process if the conviction has not been reversed or the plea has not been set aside with respect to a crime involving moral turpitude, a disciplinary panel shall order the revocation of a license on the certification by the Office of the Attorney General.