2005 Vermont Code - § 1317. — Unprofessional conduct to be reported to board

§ 1317. Unprofessional conduct to be reported to board

(a) Any hospital, clinic, community mental health center or other health care institution in which a licensee performs professional services shall report to the commissioner of health, along with supporting information and evidence, any disciplinary action taken by it or its staff which significantly limits the licensee's privilege to practice or leads to suspension or expulsion from the institution. The report shall be made within 10 days of the date such disciplinary action was taken, and, in the case of a licensee who is employed by, or under contract with, a community mental health center, a copy of the report shall also be sent to the commissioner of developmental and mental health services. This section shall not apply to cases of resignation or separation from service for reasons unrelated to disciplinary action.

(b) Within 30 days of any judgment or settlements involving a claim of professional negligence by a licensee, any insurer of the licensee shall report the information to the commissioner of health.

(c) Except as provided in section 1368 of this title, information provided to the department under this section shall be confidential unless the department decides to treat the report as a complaint, in which case, the provisions of section 1318 of this title shall apply.

(d) A person who acts in good faith in accord with the provisions of this section shall not be liable for damages in any civil action.

(e) A person who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.00. (Added 2001, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 13, 2002.)