2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 15 - Occupations
Chapter 685 - Naturopaths
Section 685.205 - Peer review committee; duties; members; board responsibilities; confidentiality; limitation on liability; investigation; rules.

(1) The Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine shall appoint a peer review committee consisting of five members. The peer review committee shall evaluate complaints against naturopathic physicians which are referred to it by the board, and make recommendations to the board regarding those complaints. The board exercises ultimate authority and control over all complaints considered by the committee, approving or disapproving the recommendations of the committee.

(2) The members of a peer review committee shall be appointed from among those in the profession who are in active practice with five or more years of practice experience. Members must be representative of affiliated and nonaffiliated naturopathic physicians and representative of various aspects of the practice of naturopathic medicine. To be appointed a member must receive at least four votes from members of the state board. Members shall each serve two-year terms. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms.

(3) The peer review process shall be governed by rules of the board adopted pursuant to ORS chapter 183. The board shall provide appropriate training for members of peer review committees. The board by rule shall provide for a program of active supervision by the board over the conduct of the peer review committee to determine whether it comports with state regulatory policy and to correct abuses, if any.

(4) Members of a peer review committee acting pursuant to this section are agents of the board for purposes of ORS 30.260 to 30.300.

(5) Peer review may not be used to replace independent medical examinations.

(6) Any information provided to a peer review committee in the performance of its duties is confidential and is not subject to public disclosure or admissible as evidence in any judicial proceeding, except that as a part of a peer review report, this information may be disclosed to the board and the person being reviewed.

(7) Any person who reports or provides information to a peer review committee in the performance of its duties and who provides information in good faith is not subject to an action for civil damages as a result thereof.

(8) Upon receipt of a complaint under this chapter, the peer review committee shall conduct an investigation as described under ORS 676.165.

[1989 c.146 §2; 1989 c.575 §5; 1997 c.791 §39; 2001 c.526 §9; 2009 c.43 §31]