2013 Maryland Code
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS
§ 14-404 - Denials, reprimands, probations, suspensions, and revocations -- Grounds

§14-404.

(a) Subject to the hearing provisions of § 14-405 of this subtitle, the Board, on the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, may reprimand any licensee, place any licensee on probation, or suspend or revoke a license if the licensee:

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

(2) Fraudulently or deceptively uses a license;

(3) Is guilty of:

(i) Immoral conduct in the practice of medicine; or

(ii) Unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine;

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

(5) Solicits or advertises in violation of § 14-503 of this title;

(6) Abandons a patient;

(7) Habitually is intoxicated;

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

(9) Provides professional services:

(i) While under the influence of alcohol; or

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

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

(11) Willfully makes or files a false report or record in the practice of medicine;

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

(13) On proper request, and in accordance with the provisions of Title 4, Subtitle 3 of the Health - General Article, fails to provide details of a patient’s medical record to the patient, another physician, or hospital;

(14) Solicits professional patronage through an agent or other person or profits from the acts of a person who is represented as an agent of the physician;

(15) Pays or agrees to pay any sum to any person for bringing or referring a patient or accepts or agrees to accept any sum from any person for bringing or referring a patient;

(16) Agrees with a clinical or bioanalytical laboratory to make payments to the laboratory for a test or test series for a patient, unless the licensed physician discloses on the bill to the patient or third-party payor:

(i) The name of the laboratory;

(ii) The amount paid to the laboratory for the test or test series; and

(iii) The amount of procurement or processing charge of the licensed physician, if any, for each specimen taken;

(17) Makes a willful misrepresentation in treatment;

(18) Practices medicine with an unauthorized person or aids an unauthorized person in the practice of medicine;

(19) Grossly overutilizes health care services;

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

(21) Is disciplined by a licensing or disciplinary authority or convicted or disciplined by a court of any state or country or disciplined by any branch of the United States uniformed services or the Veterans’ Administration for an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this section;

(22) Fails to meet appropriate standards as determined by appropriate peer review for the delivery of quality medical and surgical care performed in an outpatient surgical facility, office, hospital, or any other location in this State;

(23) Willfully submits false statements to collect fees for which services are not provided;

(24) Was 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 this section and the licensee:

(i) Surrendered the license issued by the state or country to the state or country; or

(ii) Allowed the license issued by the state or country to expire or lapse;

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

(26) Fails to educate a patient being treated for breast cancer of alternative methods of treatment as required by § 20-113 of the Health - General Article;

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

(28) Fails to comply with the provisions of § 12-102 of this article;

(29) 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;

(30) Except as to an association that has remained in continuous existence since July 1, 1963:

(i) Associates with a pharmacist as a partner or co-owner of a pharmacy for the purpose of operating a pharmacy;

(ii) Employs a pharmacist for the purpose of operating a pharmacy; or

(iii) Contracts with a pharmacist for the purpose of operating a pharmacy;

(31) Except in an emergency life-threatening situation where it is not feasible or practicable, fails to comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on universal precautions;

(32) Fails to display the notice required under § 14-415 of this subtitle;

(33) Fails to cooperate with a lawful investigation conducted by the Board;

(34) Is convicted of insurance fraud as defined in § 27-801 of the Insurance Article;

(35) Is in breach of a service obligation resulting from the applicant’s or licensee’s receipt of State or federal funding for the licensee’s medical education;

(36) Willfully makes a false representation when seeking or making application for licensure or any other application related to the practice of medicine;

(37) By corrupt means, threats, or force, intimidates or influences, or attempts to intimidate or influence, for the purpose of causing any person to withhold or change testimony in hearings or proceedings before the Board or those otherwise delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings;

(38) By corrupt means, threats, or force, hinders, prevents, or otherwise delays any person from making information available to the Board in furtherance of any investigation of the Board;

(39) Intentionally misrepresents credentials for the purpose of testifying or rendering an expert opinion in hearings or proceedings before the Board or those otherwise delegated to the Office of Administrative Hearings;

(40) Fails to keep adequate medical records as determined by appropriate peer review; or

(41) Performs a cosmetic surgical procedure in an office or a facility that is not:

(i) Accredited by:

1. The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities;

2. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care; or

3. The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations; or

(ii) Certified to participate in the Medicare program, as enacted by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

(b) (1) On the filing of certified docket entries with the Board by the Office of the Attorney General, the Board 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, the Board shall order the revocation of a license on the certification by the Office of the Attorney General.

(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board may not reprimand, place on probation, or suspend or revoke a license of a licensee for providing a patient with a written statement, medical records, or testimony that, in the licensee’s professional opinion, the patient is likely to receive therapeutic or palliative relief from marijuana.

(2) Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to release a licensee from the duty to exercise a professional standard of care when evaluating a patient’s medical condition.