2009 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 61 - Professional and Occupational Licenses.
Article 5A - Dental Health Care
Section 61-5A-21 - Disciplinary proceedings; application of uniform licensing act. (Repealed effective July 1, 2016.)

61-5A-21. Disciplinary proceedings; application of uniform licensing act. (Repealed effective July 1, 2016.)

A.     In accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act [61-1-1 NMSA 1978] and rules of the board, the board and committee may fine and may deny, revoke, suspend, stipulate or otherwise limit any license or certificate, including those of licensed non-dentist owners, held or applied for under the Dental Health Care Act, upon findings by the board or the committee that the licensee, certificate holder or applicant:   

(1)     is guilty of fraud or deceit in procuring or attempting to procure a license or certificate;   

(2)     has been convicted of a crime punishable by incarceration in a federal prison or state penitentiary; provided a copy of the record of conviction, certified to by the clerk of the court entering the conviction, shall be conclusive evidence of such conviction;   

(3)     is guilty of gross incompetence or gross negligence, as defined by rules of the board, in the practice of dentistry, dental hygiene or dental assisting;   

(4)     is habitually intemperate or is addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs or is addicted to any vice to such degree as to render the licensee unfit to practice;   

(5)     is guilty of unprofessional conduct as defined by rule;   

(6)     is guilty of any violation of the Controlled Substances Act [30-31-1 NMSA 1978];   

(7)     has violated any provisions of the Dental Health Care Act or rule or regulation of the board or the committee;   

(8)     is guilty of willfully or negligently practicing beyond the scope of licensure;   

(9)     is guilty of practicing dentistry or dental hygiene without a license or aiding or abetting the practice of dentistry or dental hygiene by a person not licensed under the Dental Health Care Act;   

(10)     is guilty of obtaining or attempting to obtain any fee by fraud or misrepresentation or has otherwise acted in a manner or by conduct likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public;   

(11)     is guilty of patient abandonment;   

(12)     is guilty of failing to report to the board any adverse action taken against the licensee by a licensing authority, peer review body, malpractice insurance carrier or other entity as defined in rules of the board and the committee;   

(13)     has had a license, certificate or registration to practice as a dentist or dental hygienist revoked, suspended, denied, stipulated or otherwise limited in any jurisdiction, territory or possession of the United States or another country for actions of the licensee similar to acts described in this subsection. A certified copy of the decision of the jurisdiction taking such disciplinary action will be conclusive evidence; or   

(14)     has failed to furnish the board, its investigators or its representatives with information requested by the board or the committee in the course of an official investigation.   

B.     Disciplinary proceedings may be instituted by sworn complaint by any person, including a board or committee member, and shall conform with the provisions of the Uniform Licensing Act.   

C.     Licensees and certificate holders shall bear the costs of disciplinary proceedings unless exonerated.   

D.     Any person filing a sworn complaint shall be immune from liability arising out of civil action if the complaint is filed in good faith and without actual malice.   

E.     Licensees whose licenses are in a probationary status shall pay reasonable expenses for maintaining probationary status, including but not limited to laboratory costs when laboratory testing of biological fluids or accounting costs when audits are included as a condition of probation.