2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 43.2 - Surgical Assistants and Surgical Technologists
§ 12-43.2-105. Grounds for discipline - disciplinary proceedings - judicial review

(1) The director may take disciplinary action against a registrant if the director finds that the registrant has represented himself or herself as a registered surgical assistant or technologist after the expiration, suspension, or revocation of his or her registration.

(2) The director may revoke, suspend, deny, or refuse to renew a registration or issue a cease-and-desist order to a registrant in accordance with this section upon proof that the registrant:

(a) Has performed the duties of a surgical assistant or surgical technologist without being registered;

(b) Has falsified information in an application or the database or has attempted to obtain or has obtained a registration by fraud, deception, or misrepresentation;

(c) Is an excessive or habitual user or abuser of alcohol or habit-forming drugs or is a habitual user of a controlled substance, as defined in section 18-18-102, C.R.S., or other drugs having similar effects;

(d) Has a physical or mental condition or disability that renders the registrant unable to perform his or her tasks with reasonable skill and safety or that may endanger the health or safety of individuals receiving services;

(e) Has violated this article or aided or abetted or knowingly permitted any person to violate this article, a rule adopted under this article, or any lawful order of the director;

(f) Had a registration, license, or certification suspended, revoked, or denied by another jurisdiction for actions that are a violation of this article;

(g) Has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a misdemeanor related to drugs or alcohol or a felony. A certified copy of the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction of the conviction or plea shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction or plea. In considering the disciplinary action, the director shall be governed by section 24-5-101, C.R.S.

(h) Has fraudulently obtained, furnished, or sold any surgical assistant or surgical technologist diploma, certificate, registration, renewal of registration, or record or aided or abetted such act;

(i) Has failed to notify the director of the suspension, revocation, or denial of the person's past or currently held license, certificate, or registration required to perform the duties of a surgical assistant or surgical technologist in this or any other jurisdiction;

(j) Has refused to submit to a physical or mental examination when ordered by the director pursuant to section 12-43.2-106; or

(k) Has otherwise violated any provision of this article or lawful order or rule of the director.

(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, the director need not find that the actions that are grounds for discipline were willful but may consider whether such actions were willful when determining the nature of disciplinary sanctions to be imposed.

(b) Upon the failure of a registrant to comply with any conditions imposed by the director pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, unless compliance is beyond the control of the registrant, the director may suspend the registration of the registrant until the registrant complies with the conditions of the director.

(4) (a) The director may commence a proceeding to discipline a registrant when the director has reasonable grounds to believe that the registrant has committed an act enumerated in this section or has violated a lawful order or rule of the director.

(b) In any proceeding under this section, the director may accept as evidence of grounds for disciplinary action any disciplinary action taken against a registrant in another jurisdiction if the violation that prompted the disciplinary action in the other jurisdiction would be grounds for disciplinary action under this article.

(5) Disciplinary proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., and the hearing and opportunity for review shall be conducted pursuant to that article by the director or by an administrative law judge, at the director's discretion. The director has the authority to exercise all powers and duties conferred by this article during the disciplinary proceedings.

(6) (a) The director may request the attorney general to seek an injunction, in any court of competent jurisdiction, to enjoin a person from committing an act prohibited by this article. When seeking an injunction under this paragraph (a), the attorney general shall not be required to allege or prove the inadequacy of any remedy at law or that substantial or irreparable damage is likely to result from a continued violation of this article.

(b) (I) In accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., and this article, the director is authorized to investigate, hold hearings, and gather evidence in all matters related to the exercise and performance of the powers and duties of the director.

(II) In order to aid the director in any hearing or investigation instituted pursuant to this section, the director or an administrative law judge appointed pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (6) is authorized to administer oaths, take affirmations of witnesses, and issue subpoenas compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of all relevant records, papers, books, documentary evidence, and materials in any hearing, investigation, accusation, or other matter before the director or an administrative law judge.

(III) Upon failure of any witness or registrant to comply with a subpoena or process, the district court of the county in which the subpoenaed person or registrant resides or conducts business, upon application by the director with notice to the subpoenaed person or registrant, may issue to the person or registrant an order requiring that person or registrant to appear before the director; produce the relevant papers, books, records, documentary evidence, or materials if so ordered; or give evidence touching the matter under investigation or in question. If the person or registrant fails to obey the order of the court, the person or registrant may be held in contempt of court.

(c) The director may appoint an administrative law judge pursuant to part 10 of article 30 of title 24, C.R.S., to conduct hearings, take evidence, make findings, and report such findings to the director.

(7) (a) The director, the director's staff, any person acting as a witness or consultant to the director, an employer who notifies the director pursuant to section 12-43.2-104 (1) (b), and any person who lodges a complaint pursuant to this article shall be immune from liability in any civil action brought against him or her for acts occurring while acting in his or her capacity as director, staff, consultant, employer, or witness, respectively, if such person was acting in good faith within the scope of his, her, or its respective capacity, made a reasonable effort to obtain the facts of the matter as to which he, she, or it acted, and acted in the reasonable belief that the action taken by him, her, or it was warranted by the facts.

(b) A person participating in good faith in making a complaint or report or in an investigative or administrative proceeding pursuant to this section shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might result by reason of the participation.

(8) A final action of the director is subject to judicial review by the court of appeals pursuant to section 24-4-106 (11), C.R.S.

(9) When a complaint or an investigation discloses an instance of misconduct that, in the opinion of the director, warrants formal action, the complaint shall not be resolved by a deferred settlement, action, judgment, or prosecution.

(10) (a) If it appears to the director, based upon credible evidence as presented in a written complaint by any person, that a registrant is acting in a manner that is an imminent threat to the health and safety of the public, or a person is acting or has acted without the required registration, the director may issue an order to cease and desist such activity. The order shall set forth the statutes and rules alleged to have been violated, the facts alleged to have constituted the violation, and the requirement that all unlawful acts or the performance of unregistered activities immediately cease.

(b) Within ten days after service of the order to cease and desist pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (10), the respondent may request a hearing on the question of whether acts in violation of this article have occurred. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to sections 24-4-104 and 24-4-105, C.R.S.

(11) (a) If it appears to the director, based upon credible evidence as presented in a written complaint by any person, that a person has violated any other provision of this article, in addition to any specific powers granted pursuant to this article, the director may issue to the person an order to show cause as to why the director should not issue a final order directing the person to cease and desist from the unlawful act or unregistered activity.

(b) A person against whom an order to show cause has been issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (11) shall be notified promptly by the director of the issuance of the order, along with a copy of the order, the factual and legal basis for the order, and the date set by the director for a hearing on the order. The notice may be served on the person against whom the order has been issued by personal service, by first-class, postage prepaid United States mail, or in another manner as may be practicable. Personal service or mailing of an order or document pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall constitute notice of the order to the person.

(c) (I) The hearing on an order to show cause shall be held no sooner than ten and no later than forty-five calendar days after the date of transmission or service of the notification by the director as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (11). The hearing may be continued by agreement of all parties based upon the complexity of the matter, number of parties to the matter, and legal issues presented in the matter, but in no event shall the hearing be held later than sixty calendar days after the date of transmission or service of the notification.

(II) If a person against whom an order to show cause has been issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (11) does not appear at the hearing, the director may present evidence that notification was properly sent or served on the person pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection (11) and such other evidence related to the matter as the director deems appropriate. The director shall issue the order within ten days after the director's determination related to reasonable attempts to notify the respondent, and the order shall become final as to that person by operation of law. Such hearing shall be conducted pursuant to sections 24-4-104 and 24-4-105, C.R.S.

(III) If the director reasonably finds that the person against whom the order to show cause was issued is acting or has acted without the required registration, or has or is about to engage in acts or practices constituting violations of this article, a final cease-and-desist order may be issued, directing the person to cease and desist from further unlawful acts or unregistered practices.

(IV) The director shall provide notice, in the manner set forth in paragraph (b) of this subsection (11), of the final cease-and-desist order within ten calendar days after the hearing conducted pursuant to this paragraph (c) to each person against whom the final order has been issued. The final order issued pursuant to subparagraph (III) of this paragraph (c) shall be effective when issued and shall be a final order for purposes of judicial review.

(12) If it appears to the director, based upon credible evidence presented to the director, that a person has engaged or is about to engage in an unregistered act or practice; an act or practice constituting a violation of this article, a rule promulgated pursuant to this article, or an order issued pursuant to this article; or an act or practice constituting grounds for administrative sanction pursuant to this article, the director may enter into a stipulation with the person.

(13) If any person fails to comply with a final cease-and-desist order or a stipulation, the director may request the attorney general or the district attorney for the judicial district in which the alleged violation exists to bring, and if so requested such attorney shall bring, suit for a temporary restraining order and for injunctive relief to prevent any further or continued violation of the final order.

(14) A person aggrieved by the final cease-and-desist order may seek judicial review of the director's determination or of the director's final order as provided in subsection (8) of this section.

(15) The director shall notify the chief medical officer of the department of public health and environment within thirty days after taking action regarding conduct of a registrant that violates either this article or any applicable requirement of title 25, C.R.S., and post a notice of such action on the division's website.