2020 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions And Occupations
Article 30. Provisions Applicable to Health Care Professions and Occupations
Section 12-30-203. Use of professional review committees.
(1) (a) The general assembly recognizes that:
The medical board and the nursing board, while assuming and retaining ultimate authority for licensure and discipline in accordance with article 240 of this title 12 and part 1 of article 255 of this title 12, respectively, and in accordance with this part 2, cannot practically and economically assume responsibility over every single allegation or instance of purported deviation from the standards of quality for the practice of medicine or nursing, from the standards of professional conduct, or from the standards of appropriate care; and
An attempt to exercise this oversight would result in extraordinary delays in thedetermination of the legitimacy of the allegations and would result in the inappropriate and unequal exercise of their authority to license and discipline persons licensed under article 240 of this title 12 or advanced practice registered nurses.
(b) It is therefore the intent of the general assembly that the medical board and the nursing board utilize and allow professional review committees and governing boards to assist them in meeting their responsibilities under article 240 of this title 12 and part 1 of article 255 of this title 12, respectively, and under this part 2.
Persons licensed under article 240 of this title 12 and advanced practice registerednurses are encouraged to serve upon professional review committees when called to do so and to study and review in an objectively reasonable manner the professional conduct of persons licensed under article 240 of this title 12 or advanced practice registered nurses, including the competence of, professional conduct of, or the quality and appropriateness of patient care provided by, those persons.
(a) The use of professional review committees is an extension of the authority of the medical board and nursing board. However, except as otherwise provided in this part 2, nothing in this part 2 limits the authority of professional review committees properly constituted under this part 2.
(b) Professional review committees, the members who constitute the committees, governing boards, authorized entities, and persons who participate directly or indirectly in professional review activities are granted certain immunities from liability arising from actions that are within the scope of their activities as provided in section 12-30-207. These grants of immunity from liability are necessary to ensure that professional review committees and governing boards can exercise their professional knowledge and judgment.
Source: L. 2019: Entire title R&RE with relocations, (HB 19-1172), ch. 136, p. 779, § 1, effective October 1. L. 2020: (1)(a)(I) and (1)(b) amended, (HB 20-1183), ch. 157, p. 698, § 43, effective July 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-36.5-103 as it existed prior to 2019.
